"I'd probably..." - Arsenal star White reveals his surprising career choice if he hadn't made it in football

Arsenal defender Ben White has revealed that he would have become a gardener if it wasn't for professional football.

White has been an integral part of Mikel Arteta's title charge this season, as the Gunners hope to lift the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004.

The 25-year-old scored his first goal for the club on Saturday, levelling the scores against Bournemouth to set up a grand stand finish at the Emirates.

Reiss Nelson completed the comeback, scoring deep into stoppage time to win 3-2 and pull five points clear of second-placed Manchester City.

However, if White wasn't running around a football pitch, he would have followed in his father's footsteps.

"I don't watch football"

The England international admitted he had little interest in football, and treats it merely as a profession.

He told Arsenal's matchday programme: "I'd probably be working with my dad if I wasn't a footballer. He used to be a gardener.

"I think that's why there was never any pressure on me growing up, because I would have been very happy with that. I went into football but it would have been no problem for me to do what my dad did.

"I never used to watch football much anyway. If it was on when I was a kid, after five minutes I'd get bored of it and go outside to play football. I didn't really watch it, I'd much rather do it. Even now, I don't watch football really.

"I watch my own clips and my own footage to help me improve but I wouldn't watch a game for fun.

"I'm obsessed with being the best I can be and being successful and that would have been in anything I did," he continued.

"I always want to do the most I can to be a success. So, if I had gone into gardening, it would have been the same.

"My profession just happens to also be a lot of people's hobby. They look forward to every Saturday to watch the game and that's great.

"But for me it's about being on the pitches every day, trying to constantly be the best you can be. That's the bit I really love.

"When I come into the training ground, it's all about football – 100% focus. Then when I leave, I switch off from it.

"I don't think my dad has ever said to me: 'Shall we watch a game on TV?' He absolutely isn't interested in that, I don't think he's ever watched one on TV."

Topics: Arsenal, Ben White, Premier League, Football

Joe Adams

Joe is a Journalist for SPORTbible with a primary focus on football. He has previously covered a number of other sports including boxing, rugby and F1. Wishes he was born left-footed.

@joeadamsjourno