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Arsenal defender Ben White is to miss months after suffering from a combination of injuries, Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday.
White, 27, underwent a knee operation earlier in November, according to ESPN sources, but is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines and more operations in a big blow to his team’s title hopes.
“Ben is going to be out for months. It’s been different kinds of struggles. It’s never been the same thing,” Arteta said of White’s health at his news conference ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
“It’s not been improving. It got to a point a where we have to protect the player and let him have surgery. Unfortunately it’s going to be a few months. We have to see how he reacts post-surgery.”
White started Arsenal’s final game before the international break — a 1-1 draw with Chelsea — but has missed time already this season. He was deemed unfit to start for the important trips to Newcastle United and Manchester City and unable to feature at all against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Another of Arsenal’s defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu is also out for the foreseeable future with a recurrence of a knee injury, Arteta said.
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard are all training with the team, having either withdrawn from international duty due to injury concerns or picking up knocks while away with their countries.
Arsenal host Forest in need of results if they are to mount a serious title challenge. The north London club are fourth, nine points behind leaders Liverpool and four points behind reigning champions City.