Arsenal defender Ben White limped out of the game vs Wigan in the FA Cup, with Mikel Arteta admitting that the amount of issues his side are facing is becoming a concern
Ben White limped out during the win over Wigan
Ben White limped out during the win over Wigan
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Ben White has moved to allay fears he could join Arsenal's lengthening injury list after being replaced during the FA Cup win over Wigan.
White was named in Mikel Arteta's starting XI for the tie against the League One side, which the Gunners emphatically won 4-0. However, he came off during the closing stages after going down and being unable to continue.
That, along with an issue picked up by Riccardo Calafiori in the warm up, marred what was otherwise another extremely positive day for Arsenal. Arteta admitted that the list of absences facing his side was a concern, as they go in search of an unprecedented quadruple.
But White has taken to social media to suggest he won’t be missing any action. Along with a picture of him in action against Wigan, he has posted: “Next round, No injuries”.
The news will come as a relief to Arteta, who has seen a number of key players pick up issues in recent weeks. Mikel Merino is set to miss the rest of the season, while Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are also nursing injuries.
“Before it was the strikers, then it was the defenders, now it's the midfielders,” Arteta said after the win over Wigan.
"But we are still coping with that, but we need some players back and fit, to give us as well not only numbers but different options in relation to the opponents that we have. So the quicker the better."
Ben White posted the update after Arsenal's win over Wigan
Ben White posted the update after Arsenal's win over Wigan
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Arsenal return to Premier League action in midweek, when they will have the opportunity to re-establish a seven-point lead over Manchester City.
And Arteta will head to Molineux with Eberechi Eze finding some form after a difficult period for the England international. Eze has taken time to adapt following his big-money summer move from Crystal Palace, but looked a player growing in confidence - albeit against lower league opponents.
Asked if Sunday could serve as a confidence booster for Eze, Arteta said: “Yes, some superb goals and his intentions, I think the risk that he took in the final third, the amount of shots that he tried to take as well, I think that's really positive. That's what I want from him.
“Those players need those moments and especially when we talk about the creative players, they need to feel that they are producing those moments and I'm very happy with that. I'm very happy with Gabi as well, the run that he made, the timing of that and then the finish in action, really, really positive. So it's good for the mood, for the confidence, it's a really good thing.”
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