Lee Dixon is a legendary name associated with Arsenal Football Club, making 626 appearances and scoring 28 goals in 15 seasons with the club. As you’d expect from a legend that quit playing the beautiful game more than 20 years ago, Dixon has stayed in football, working as a pundit in leading media outlets as BBC Sports and NBC Sports, and even handles commentary in the franchise FIFA video game series. 

One thing we know for sure is that Dixon is Arsenal through and through, and he will be forever remembered for the role he played in that ferocious backline under George Graham that had Nigel Winterburn, Steve Bould and captain fantastic, Tony Adams. That was a very mean defense that hardly conceded any goals – so famous that when Arsenal leads you by a solitary goal, the game was all but over.

Following Arsenal’s pulsating win over FC Porto in the Champions League, Dixon spoke with Tribal Football about the drama that unfolded at the Emirates, 

“Sometimes, when you go into European games, you can kind of derail your form a little bit, as we saw in the reverse game against Porto.

“Arsenal weren’t at their best last night either, but the impetus they’ve built up from their league form and the confidence that they’re carrying into every game now was a big part of this win.

“I was very confident before the game that they would win it, even in the penalty shootout. I know it’s a lottery, but there’s a kind of inner belief now that something quite special could happen, and when you win like that, it breeds another type of confidence.”

Everyone associated with Arsenal has been buzzing since the victory and the reward for the win over FC Porto is a clash with Bayern Munich, but this time, things are different. Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal to a legitimate threat and it is going to be an encounter for the ages. 

Dixon, as a right back, keeps a keen eye on the players that have featured in that position over the years at Arsenal. Bacary Sagna was a modicum of consistency in his time at the club, Lauren Etame-Meyer was also a right back that served with valor and rigor, but we’ve also had the likes of Emmanuel Eboue and Oleg Luzhny, that didn’t light up any fireworks in their time playing for Arsenal.

When Mikel Arteta joined the club, he worked briefly with Hector Bellerin before a cruel injury paved the way for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to have an extended run-out in that position, but he chose not to remain as a full back, which allowed Arteta to invest in Takehiro Tomiyasu. The emergence of William Saliba, coupled with Tomiyasu’s injury layoffs saw Arsenal’s 50 million quid center back, Ben White, shunted to right back and he took to it like water on a duck’s back. 

White featured in all 38 Premier League games for Arsenal last season, scoring two goals and creating five assists, and was an epitome of consistency at the club. He has been ever-present in the recent campaign, garnering a couple assists in the narrow win over Brentford a few weeks ago. Dixon has been effusive in his praise for White,

“Ben White’s playing some of the best football that he’s played for a while, and Jakub Kiwiorz as well. Sometimes, when he gets put on the team sheet, I think people are kind of doubtful. But the back four look like a solid base when Kiwior plays on that left side.

“He gives a more stable look to the way they perform, and he’s still a good enough footballer to pop into that midfield area when he’s needed.

“Attacking-wise, we’re always going to create chances and excitement. The team seem to be able to just turn defence into attack, so it was a good result. The performance could have been better, but they’ll take that every time until the final, if that’s how it ends up.”

You can get the excerpt of the full Dixon interview on Flash Score. 

Ben White recently signed a new long term contract, which will keep him at the club for the foreseeable future, which has gone down well with everyone associated with the club. Dixon’s praise is well deserved as White has become one of the best right backs in the Premier League with his performances. Shame, it will probably not be replicated with the England national team.

Sayonara.

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