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Why Arsenal star Ben White isn't starting vs Man City amid Mikel Arteta injury crisis

Ben White in action for Arsenal
-Credit: (Image: (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)


Ben White was only passed as fit enough to feature on the bench for Arsenal's trip to Manchester City. It comes with the Gunners already dealing with a number of injury issues including the absence of Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino.

Jurrien Timber was selected to start for Mikel Arteta as his side visit the Etihad Stadium. The Dutchman is expected to play at right-back with Riccardo Calafiori on the left.

White played the full match away to Atalanta on Thursday night in the Champions League. He has played every minute so far this season.

"It was a little bit forced [to drop White and start Calafiori], but we are okay," Arteta said before the match. "We've done it with different players but we have full belief in the players we have. It gives us something different."

City themselves are without key midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who went off at half-time in their own European tie on Wednesday. Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb were already known absences for the hosts.

Oleksandr Zinchenko also misses out for Arsenal, who are still without Takehiro Tomiyasu as well. Leandro Trossard is welcomed back into the team as a replacement for Odegaard, like he was against Tottenham last weekend.

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Arsenal still have their strongest centre-back partnership available with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes starting ahead of David Raya. Declan Rice returns to domestic action after missing the North London Derby through suspension.

Thomas Partey partners him in midfield with Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli either side of Kai Havertz in attack. Arsenal know that a win against last season's champions will take them to the top of the Premier League. Saka captains the team in the absence of White and Odegaard.

City can open up a five-point gap over their closest rivals of the past two years though and are seeking a fifth straight victory. Liverpool put pressure on both sides with three points of their own against Brentford earlier in the weekend.

Arsenal XI vs Manchester City: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Trossard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli