Arsenal defender Ben White has claimed that he cannot envisage himself playing for any other club after signing a new long-term contract with the Gunners.
On Thursday morning, Arsenal confirmed that the 26-year-old had extended his deal, which is now understood to run until 2028 with the option of a further 12 months.
White's previous terms - which he penned upon his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021 - were not due to expire until 2026, but the Gunners were keen to reflect his importance to the squad with a pay rise.
The England international did not miss a single Premier League game last season and has amassed two goals and four assists from 27 top-flight matches in the current season, as well as featuring in all eight of their Champions League games so far.
White scored Arsenal's sixth and final goal in their 6-0 crushing of Sheffield United two Mondays ago - the Gunners' 10,000th competitive goal - before providing two assists for Declan Rice and Kai Havertz in last weekend's 2-1 victory over Bournemouth.
💬 "I'm so happy, it's been a long journey."
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 14, 2024
Our number four sets his sights on honours after putting pen-to-paper on a new deal at the club. Watch the full video on https://t.co/4KJlfKW7rt
Speaking to Arsenal's media channels after signing his new deal, White said: "I'm so happy – it's been a long journey, and amazing to sign again and be here for more years.
"I've said before I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, so it's perfect. When you're in that office, it's a little more daunting but it's amazing to sign again and have the same feelings of pride It's a really good achievement."
White's camp were believed to have been in discussions with Arsenal for several months before the defender put pen to paper, but there was always confidence on both sides that an agreement would be struck.
The England international spoke with Youtuber Timbsy at Arsenal's London Colney training base after signing his new deal, where he was asked when he felt "at home" at the Emirates Stadium.
"I'd probably say not until the pre-season after I joined. I feel like I've always done a year somewhere and left again straight away to go on loan, or go back to Brighton for a year and then come to Arsenal," White added.
© Reuters
"It was the first time I've been back-to-back and stayed somewhere. I think that was probably then when I realised I'm here to stay, and to play.
"Last season we did better than what people expected. I think there was a little bit of belief that we could do it, and we didn't get what we wanted last season, but this season, we've started so well.
"Coming in for pre-season, everyone was top and ready to go, you could kind of tell in pre-season that we were going to be another team this year. I think with the team, there's not too much said about where we want to be.
"I think everyone knows we're in for the highest we can, and I don't think anything is too big for us to be able to challenge and win. There's no limit to what we can achieve."
From 122 games in an Arsenal shirt, White boasts four goals and nine assists, and despite a niggling knee issue, the 26-year-old has only missed one top-flight match for the Gunners this season.
White follows Aaron Ramsdale, Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard in penning fresh terms at Arsenal, and new contracts for Jorginho and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also in the pipeline.
