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Ben White slammed for “over the top” awkward interview as Arsenal drop points at Southampton

Ben White has been slammed for giving an “over the top” awkward interview as Arsenal drop points at Southampton on Sunday.

The 25-year-old England international spoke on Stockholm-based broadcaster Viaplay in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw, but was understandably frustrated with his side’s performance at St Mary’s Stadium.

Arsenal dominated for large part of the first-half with in-form midfielder Granit Xhaka opening the scoring after firing home from Ben White’s cross.

But despite a positive start, Mikel Arteta’s side failed to build on their dominance and Stuart Armstrong produced a composed finish on the 65th minute which went on to earn Southampton a big point.

Arsenal stay top of the Premier League standings, sitting two points ahead of holders Manchester City, but centre-back White appeared rather disheartened after the final whistle.

White starts off: “I think the first half was really good. We created loads of chances and we should have scored more. We should have probably put the game to bed in the first half and we didn’t.”

After being questioned what happened in the second half, he replied: “There’s loads of reasons. I think we performed the opposite to the way we did in the first half and that showed.”

Viaplay’s Norwegian reporter Jonas Bergh-Johnsen quickly moved on and took to asking White if he thought Arsenal were “sloppy” in the second half, or whether the physicality of the match changed the course of the game.

White responded: “No. It was just sloppy from us. We know what we’re going to be dealing with each game, and we know if we we do our best we’re going to win those games but today we didn’t do it.”

The reporter again bring up ‘physicality’, leading to a short reply from White, who said “that’s football” before suggesting Arsenal’s players also do the same.

After the interviewer asked if it’s “important for you to not be bullied in matches like this”, White played down the statement.

“Yeah. I don’t think we were bullied,” White adds. “Yeah, I’m not really sure where we got bullied? Yeah, we obviously didn’t deserve to win the game. So yeah, that’s it.”

As you can see from the footage above, the former Brighton and Leeds loanee didn’t hang around for long.

After dropping points for only the second time this season, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked if he was frustrated by the result.

“Yes, I am, especially with the chances that we created, the way we started and played the first half, the game should have been in a different position,” he told Sky Sports.

“Credit as well to Southampton, the way they came out in the second half, we weren’t as clean and consistent on the ball as we were in the first half. We started to concede a lot of long throws, set plays, [things that] disrupt our game.

“Despite that, I think we created the two biggest chances again in the second half but it wasn’t enough to win the game, unfortunately.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “We had three or four good opportunities and should have scored more. We needed two or three goals, but only scored one.

“It’s disappointing. We created enough chances but couldn’t put the ball away.

“It’s a lesson because we wanted to win again. They put us under more pressure through direct play in the second half, and we were struggling.”

On Granit Xhaka: “Really efficient, really consistent and really impressive. It’s the way he wants to continue to do it.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: “It should have been a different outcome. Credit to Southampton, they did very well.

“We started to concede a lot of long throws. We created the two biggest chances in the second half but it wasn’t enough to win the game.

“We just didn’t put the ball in the back of the net. We had enough chances to get the win. It’s very disappointing.”

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “In the first half we were lucky only to be one goal down. After that, you saw what happens when you have belief.

“We had a few issues in the beginning with the shape, but we made some changes and coped better after that.

“Especially considering we were 1-0 down, it’s a good result.”

After watching White’s post-match comments, Dixon questioned his dramatic comments and said: “Wow, did they get beat 8-0? Yeah, that was a little bit over the top.

“He’s feeling what he’s feeling but I still think that this season, when you play like that in the second half, you’ve got to take it on the chin and go, ‘yeah, we didn’t play great, move on to the next one’. But he was very down there wasn’t he?”

He added: “I think it [Arsenal’s poor finishing] would’ve been Mikel’s concern at half time because you always remember the game that’s just gone, they had a midweek game but the last Premier League game he’ll remember how in control they were against Leeds and then how it went away from them in the second half.

“It was very similar, this time Southampton got the goal. But tomorrow when he’s softened his view on it he’ll say it’s a decent point, because they could’ve lost that game in the end.”

This is what fans had to say with Ben White slammed for an “over the top” awkward interview as Arsenal drop points at Southampton…

@elliott_reggie: Never understand why players purposely make it hard for reporters/journos. Ben White is an absolute chopper and needs taking down a peg or two

@benjiesta: If he doesn’t want to do an interview, fine. Think he needs to appreciate though that the fact the global media are so interested and invested in the PL as a product is what pays his wages every week. Respect costs nothing.

@mrspongey: He sounds like a bundle of laughs! 😂

@ryan_greatorex: Proper arrogant him!

@DeclanGibson: What a cock

@mr_stanton76: Obviously wants to get on the sun bed. No time for media obligations.

@JonSherratt: Nothing funny about it, came across like a prick in all honesty

@AJ_T100: This isn’t even funny. Reporter is trying to do this job and Ben White is being rude for no reason.

@NoWattieNoWave: What a weapon 🤢

@ANT_LCFC: Being a nob head to someone trying to do there job isn’t funny

@TheKopHQ: What an arrogant worm he is Ben White 🥴

@u7dreport: I don’t know why this is funny but I don’t know why it makes White a dick either, it’s just an awkward conversation

@Cragg97: Mad how it’s always the players who have achieved nothing in their careers that act like this. You’d never see Ferdinand, Terry, Campbell etc acting like this in an interview to such a simple, harmless question. Utter prick

@PalmerOli: Ahahaha i literally cant stop laughing at this!! Ben White, what a joker 🤣 what’s he like

@CallumBrooksEFC: What an idiot, making it hard for no reason what so ever, horrible little cunt

@ClarkieBen35: Why’s he making the guys life difficult ?, isn’t it much better listening to players like James Maddison give honest and genuinely insightful interviews, rather than this entitled prick trying to act tough.

@JwilliamC89: I’ve often wondered why Ben White gets overlooked for England when he’s one of our better centre halves. This 2 minute interview maybe suggests why 🤷🏻‍♂️ What a 🔔

@BriersGary: What a personality! Super fun at parties. 😑

@NikBharrat: Humble yourself Benjamin

@mickyof9: Miserable c*nt

@NotLew1892: He’s a fucking bellend

@adominey97: proper tool, big time melt

@James_Nelson20: Proper Wanky interview this, Poor little Arsenal dropping points

@MG45664508: Ben White has the personality of a wet shoe

@WM_BFC: About as much personality as a brick wall. Give me a Maddison/Declan Rice interview all day over this

@Liamframe500: Little prick achieved nothing in the game thinks he’s a big time Charlie failed cb baby average right Back rashy made him he’s bitch

@CHarrison97: It’s simply because he, like many other footballers, think they’re better than others

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