Arsenal’s Ben White has undergone a minor surgical procedure to resolve a knee issue he has been carrying.
The defender started Arsenal’s last two games, against Chelsea and Inter, but was only fit enough to feature from the bench in Arsenal’s previous fixture, the 1-0 loss to Newcastle on November 2.
Speaking before the game against, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “It’s a little issue, so we have to protect him.”
White also missed games against Leicester, Paris Saint-Germain and Southampton earlier this season, having only been used as a substitute in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City on September 22.
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Listen to the discussion between VAR Jarred Gillett and referee Rob Jones which resulted in Arsenal’s William Saliba being sent off after a foul on Evanilson at Bournemouth
Arsenal are already without fellow defenders Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney due to injuries, while Jurrien Timber has only recently returned from a muscular issue.
The Gunners have also had to contend with injuries to Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino, while Declan Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard have served suspensions for red cards.
Arteta said he was “praying” for an end to Arsenal’s injury issues after a “nightmare eight weeks” in the wake of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, which left them nine points behind leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal return to action after the international break with a Premier League home game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday November 23.
They then face Sporting in the Champions League before a trip to West Ham, live on Sky Sports on Saturday November 30, and a home game against Manchester United.
