Gary Neville’s view on Arsenal star Ben White is lazy and wrong – it seems agenda-driven

Gary Neville had no right to blame Ben White for the injury he picked up – it was lazy punditry.

That’s the opinion of Arsenal cult hero Perry Groves, who has commented on the knee knock sustained by the 28-year-old over the weekend.

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White was forced off in the 28th minute at the London Stadium on Sunday as Arsenal beat West Ham 1-0 to edge closer to a first Premier League title in 22 years.

The right-back came off worse following a knee collision with Hammers winger Crysencio Summerville when going for a loose ball.

Medics immediately came to the stricken defender’s aid, with the former Brighton man gingerly limping down the tunnel having been immediately replaced.

He was later wearing a knee brace following the full-time whistle in worrying scenes for Gooners.

White, who has started the last five matches in all competitions, is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Not only could he miss the last two Premier League games and the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30, but a place in Thomas Tuchel‘s England World Cup squad.

Speaking after the match, boss Mikel Arteta said of White: “We don’t know [the severity of the injury].

“But he doesn’t look good at all, so he needs some further testing tomorrow probably and I know a bit more.”

White noise

But while it seemed to be a case of White being unlucky, Manchester United legend declared the player was at fault – accusing him of not being committed enough in the tackle.

Speaking on commentary duty for Sky Sports, Neville said: “Ben White just hangs his leg there, it’s poor from the right-back.

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“He’s up against Summerville; he’s got to be stronger than that.

“He’s hurt himself there, that’s easily prevented if you go in strong and with a real sturdy block.

“He’s hung his leg out in pretty weak fashion, you’re asking for trouble.”

Groves, who won two First Division titles at Highbury in 1989 and 1991, has been left baffled by Neville’s view – declaring he may have a hidden agenda towards White.

Reacting to Neville’s comments on the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Inside Gooners, Groves said: “It’s lazy, it’s complete lazy punditry.

“Because Ben White didn’t pull out of the challenge, it was a 50/50.

“Declan Rice, Summerville tackled him first, and then the ball has spun out, and if you look at it, they both [Summerille and White] go [for the ball].

“And what happens is, because Ben White has gone in with a block tackle, his side foot, his knee joint then comes out.

“And Summerville’s knee hits the inside of his knee, so your joint is hyper-extended and that’s where you get the impact, and he’s probably done some ligament damage.

“So I think it was just very lazy, where it seemed like he [Neville] just wanted to criticise because of Ben White’s reputation that he doesn’t like football.

“I think it was just sloppy and too easy, because 100 per cent, he did not pull out of that tackle. No chance.”

Having his say, host Nick Bright then stated: “I just thought it was a weird thing to say.

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“Players get injured in 50/50 injuries all the time, and I just thought it was a strange thing to pick up on.

“Especially [for] a player that has aspirations to maybe go to the World Cup and he’s criticising him for getting injured.”

With Jurrien Timber still out with his groin issue, Cristhian Mosquera is now likely to come in for White against Burnley at the Emirates next Monday.