Ben White has faced the world’s best forwards while playing for Arsenal and has picked out a Manchester United star as the toughest to take on in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old is into his sixth season with the Gunners after signing from Brighton for £50 million in July 2021.
Injuries and competition for places have meant he has not always been a regular starter, but he is approaching 200 games for the club.
White has been firmly in the starting XI so far this season as Jurrien Timber has been out injured and his impressive partnership with Bukayo Saka on the right flank has been on show again.
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The six-cap England international has taken on plenty of huge names while playing at right-back and in the middle of defence and it is a Three Lions teammate who stands out as his most difficult opponent.
Speaking to Men In Blazers, White said of the toughest attacker to mark in the Premier League: ‘I’d probably still go with [Marcus] Rashford, I think he’s the toughest I’ve played against.’
It is high praise for Rashford, who is back in the Red Devils side after a year away on loan at Barcelona.
The 28-year-old, who scored for England at the World Cup over the summer, is yet to add to his Premier League goal or assist tally this season, but appears to have reintegrated into the Manchester United squad under Michael Carrick.
Rashford came off the bench against Hull City on the opening weekend of the season but then started the win over Ipswich Town and the draw with Everton on Sunday.
Looking to his own teammates, White also had praise for Riccardo Calafiori, who has had a brilliant start to the season with Arsenal.
Nominally playing at left-back, the Italy international is proving to be impactful all over the pitch, popping up in unexpected positions and adding threat going forward.
Calafiori has already provided two Premier League assists this campaign and scored in the Community Shield win over Manchester City.
Aston Villa captain John McGinn recently named the Italian as the toughest defender he has come up against in the Premier League, so he really is ticking all boxes for Mikel Arteta.
Speaking on Stick to Football, the Villa skipper said: ‘Do you know who really surprised me? Calafiori. Calafiori and Luke Shaw would be my two hardest opponents.
‘Luke Shaw because I needed to completely adapt my game with Luke Shaw. Because we’re of similar build. He’s one I had to completely try and adapt [to].
‘Calafiori was much stronger than I thought, I was really impressed with him.’
White said of his impressive teammate: ‘He can do everything really so it’s tough to stop everything that he does.
‘If one thing’s not working for him he’s got other tools to be successful, so it’s really hard to keep him down really.’