BEN WHITE has joked he is one of the most UNPROFESSIONAL players at Arsenal – despite his incredible injury record.
Across the past four Prem seasons, the Gunners defender has missed just nine games.
Asked how he has managed this feat, White laughed: “I really don’t know. If you were to ask anyone at the club: ‘Who is the most professional?’ it wouldn’t be me.
“I wouldn’t go in the ice bath, I don’t stretch, none of that. I just don’t get injured.
“It is probably a factor that I’m not super quick, I am not that powerful. I can just plod along. I can play through a lot [of pain].
“If you don’t play for a week, someone is going to and do well and you might not get in the team. It’s good for everyone to be competing and raising the level.”
White is in line to return to the squad to face Bournemouth on Saturday after a rare occurrence of sitting out of Arsenal’s last two Prem outings due to a minor groin issue.
Recovering at home, you will NOT find White watching football – a player well-known for suggesting he is not obsessed with the sport.
On that topic, White explained: “It’s not a big deal. At training and with the number of videos you have to watch every day… it’s so extreme.
“So, when I come home I just want to forget about it. There’s no football on, I don’t talk about it, mum and dad don’t speak to me about it… it’s just like it’s not my job.
“I have always been that way and want to continue that, just a normal guy. I don’t do mad things when I get home. The normal day-to-day stuff is something I like to keep to myself.
“People think that I don’t love [football], I don’t watch it, but I could still tell you most things about every winger I’m going to play against and their attributes.
“Playing right back, there are so many good wingers. Every game, every team, it is probably their best player. That’s why it is so difficult to play there in the Premier League.”
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