Already firmly established in the Arsenal back four, Ben White reflects on his journey to the Gunners, and reveals the part a formative loan spell in League Two played in his early career.
There are a whole host of reasons why young players are sent out on loan during the early part of their professional careers. More regular playing time, obviously, is a major factor, along with moving away from home, taking yourself out of the comfort zone and sampling life at a different club or division. But for Ben White, his first loan spell at Newport Town in 2017 really opened his eyes to the effect that playing in front of passionate crowds can have on the game.