Arsenal defender Ben White has been ruled out for a “few months” after undergoing surgery during the international break.
White has struggled for fitness in recent weeks and Gunners boss Mikel Arteta explained it was a culmination of things that prompted an operation.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game with Nottingham Forest, he said: “Ben White is going to be out for months, unfortunately.
“It’s been different kinds of struggles, never the same thing.
“We had to make a decision, it hasn’t been improving in the last few weeks. We know Ben is going to push every boundary, but it got to a point where we had to protect the player.
“We decided to do surgery, he agreed with that and that’s going to keep him out for a few months.
“We have to see how he reacts post-surgery, I don’t expect it to be half a year but I can’t say exactly how long it will be.”
Bukayo Saka last time at home to Forest 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CZzOwINf7t
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 22, 2024
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Saka and Rice set to return
There was better news on three other key players. Arteta added: “Bukayo [Saka] and Declan [Rice] have had their first partial sessions back today – they did very well.
“Riccardo Calafiori has trained, his rehab has gone really well. This week he trained on the pitch, he trained with us today – and he will be back in the squad.”
Arsenal have won just one of their last five games in all competitions – a 3-0 success at Preston in the EFL Cup – but Arteta is not panicking and remains confident better results are just around the corner.
He added: “We’ve analysed everything we’ve done. Have the opponents been superior to us, is that the reason we haven’t won games?
“The clear answer is no. Should we have won more of those games? The answer is yes. Do I like what our team is doing, the answer is yes, but we have to improve certain things. Especially defending and attacking the box.
“I can think of a lot of things overall, but I need to understand how the players are. The only way to do that, apart from communicating with them on the phone, is when they come back.
“And the energy of the staff and players yesterday was unbelievable. That’s the joy of being with these guys on this journey.
“They love being here, they love being back with us, and that brings the energy straight away. It’s always good to paint the picture, and make sure we are on the right track.”
Arteta brings up milestone
Arteta will take charge of Arsenal for the 250th time tomorrow and he continues to thrive in his first managerial position.
“I’ve enjoyed the experience a lot,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, because of the people I work with every day. I understand how lucky I am to be sitting where I am.
“You always want more. I feel huge pride to see the people who work here, how they feel about the club now. What we transmit about the club as a team, the people I work with.
“It’s about winning, it’s about winning more, and we are on that journey.
“If it’s about energy and what I love doing, I do have another 250 games in me.”
