Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the injured Ben White, who’s sidelined with an injury.
According to Arteta, a January return “might be possible” for White as the defender has made good progress after undergoing knee surgery during the November international break.
Since then, White has missed eight league games, through which Arsenal have won six and drawn two.
After nine games in January across 4 competitions, the focus is on potential returning players, with fellow defender Takehiro Tomiyasu also recovering.
“Ben is still a few weeks away,” Arteta said at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion. “Maybe there is a possibility (of returning in January), but he hasn’t done anything with the team yet.
“The knee looks good, he responded really well for the first few weeks, everything was going smoothly, and now he has to start putting weight on the knee and go through a lot of other things that he hasn’t been able to do so far, but I hope he’s okay okay. His work ethic is unbelievable, he’s naturally a very talented player, so I’m very confident we’ll have him quite early, but I don’t know when.
“Tomi did a few things on the pitch, but it was a long-term injury and we need to see how quickly he can progress and how the knee responds. But hopefully (he) will be good.”
White and Tomiyasu is not going to return in the near future and Jurrien Timber is suspended for the trip to Brighton, meaning Thomas Partey will move to right-back.
The 31-year-old Ghana international has played there six times this season, but his last 4 appearances have are available in midfield.
Do you might have what it takes?
Predict and win tens of millions now
Do you might have what it takes?
Predict and win tens of millions now
