Ben White reveals Arsenal Premier League title edge amid dark arts admission

There isn't too much about Ben White's appearance that suggests he's master of the dark arts. Scratch a little deeper though, and the 26-year-old possesses a ruthless edge that Mikel Arteta feels is essential to Arsenal's pursuit of Premier League and Champions League glory.

«It’s come from since I was young,» he says of the competitive streak. «I want to win everything that I do. My missus and I play a lot of games at home and I won’t be letting her win. I remember being young and always wanting to win and play aggressive and do as much as I could to win.»

This fierce will to win goes hand in hand with a selflessness that has earned him the admiration of Arsenal's staff and fans alike. Sources within the club describe White as a ferocious warrior willing to do anything to help his team win regardless of the praise that's shone upon him.

Few areas exhibit this more than corners. Arsenal's record as the best in the country from set pieces has been praised to the hilt, but White's willingness to put his body on the line to make that happen has garnered slightly less attention. In keeping with his character though, the 26-year-old doesn't mind that too much.

«There's all sorts, standing on your feet, elbow,» he says of the rough treatment he receives at set pieces. «It's okay. I just have to stand in the way and see what happens.

»Any way we can score goals it's a positive. Adding all that to the number of goals we do score it's important. It's something we are quite good at now and we want to flourish at it."

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White is also willing to dabble in these kind of tactics