Ben White undergoes minor procedure to add to Arsenal injury concerns

Ben White has undergone a minor procedure this week, football.london understands. The Arsenal defender had been suffering with joint problems confirmed by Mikel Arteta during the last run of games, meaning he missed some matches and was on the bench for the match at Newcastle.

Arteta said before the 1-0 defeat: “Ben [White] didn't make it to start because he only had half a session yesterday so it’s the third time. It’s a little issue so we have to protect him.”

White missed games against Leicester City, Southampton, PSG, Bolton and PSG with what is thought to be a knee issue. This is not the first time that the England international has suffered with these problems and was thought to be playing through it until the trip to Dubai which allowed some recovery and he ended the season strongly.

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It is not known exactly how long he will be out for, but it is hoped it will not be too long. In his stead, Jurrien Timber can of course cover in the role; however, he has been the starting left-back in recent games.

This will mean that Jakub Kiwior or Oleksandr Zinchenko along with Myles Lewis-Skelly could be called on for the left side of defence. However, the greater ambition is for Riccardo Calafiori the return to the squad and assist with an important and hectic festive schedule.

Although, Arteta did say at the end of October ahead of the match with Preston that Calafiori: "Will be out for a few weeks I'd say." That could see him ruled out until later in November and miss the matches with Nottingham Forest, Sporting CP and West Ham, but after Martin Odegaard's recovery ahead of schedule, anything is possible.

White will work on his recovery alongside other sidelined players such as Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Odegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney. The list has got longer but this break is hoped to significantly shorten it.