Arsenal defender Ben White has revealed that he prefers to keep his distance from teammate Gabriel Martinelli during training sessions, citing the Brazilian's intensity in one-on-one duels. Speaking last year, White explained that while the pair compete fiercely, there is an unwritten rule among players to avoid overly aggressive challenges.
“I play against Gabriel Martinelli every day in training... to be honest I don’t want to go too near to him most of the time,” White told Arsenal's website. He added that despite the competitive nature of their battles, the relationship remains strong once training ends.
The comments come as Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, with Martinelli introduced at half-time but failing to make a significant impact. Erling Haaland's second-half strike proved decisive, denting Arsenal's Premier League title hopes.
Arsenal remain top of the table, but City have a game in hand and could draw level on points with a win at Burnley on Wednesday. The Gunners next face Newcastle United at home on Saturday evening before a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
