Arsenal defender White: Dunk a big influence

Arsenal defender Ben White credits Brighton captain Lewis Dunk as a key early influence on his career.

Dunk took White under his wing when they were together at Brighton.

Yeah Dunky took me under his wing, and when I started at Brighton my goal was to play alongside him," White told arsenal.com.

They were in the Championship then, but I was still very far off that level when I arrived. So it was a long-term goal for me to do that, and finally I managed to do it in my last season at Brighton.

He was there from a young age as well, he was just a normal guy, English as well, down to earth, same position and we got on well. From him it was more a case of watching what he did every day. He was an example for me to follow. He was someone you look up to and see him training every day. I knew I needed to be at that level."

White signed a new deal with the Gunners this week.

He also said: Just coming into work every day for a club like Arsenal is enough to inspire me.

You have to be honest to yourself, come into training every day and become a better version of yourself. Just focus on yourself, don't judge yourself by other people's standards, be yourself. I'm here for what I can bring to the team, and that's what I need to work on every day, and try to be consistent every day at work.

I look forward to training every day. Honestly I enjoy every part of the job, and anyway it's a routine that you get used to, like everyone. You brush your teeth in the morning then go to work, and you do it every day."