Ben White

White rebuilt his entire game without ever losing the passing range he first showed as a centre back, tucking in from right back to help Arsenal build through midfield rather than around it. He rarely makes the eye catching tackle, preferring to stay goal side and force an attacker into a pass that Arsenal can comfortably defend. His positional discipline lets more expressive teammates take risks further forward without worry.

The tension is that his value rarely shows up in the moments fans actually remember, since quiet positioning does not produce a highlight reel the way a last ditch block does. He has spent seasons proving his worth through consistency rather than one defining moment, a much harder case to make to a casual observer. Ask a defender who faces him regularly and the answer changes completely.