Mikel Arteta reveals Ben White and Bukayo Saka injury timeframe update as one Arsenal star nears return

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided an injury update on Gunners duo Bukayo Saka and Ben White.

It’s been an injury-laden campaign for Arsenal, who are navigating their way through the season with a limited attack. 

Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending blow after Bukayo Saka underwent surgery to fix a hamstring tear sustained in December. 

As a result, Arteta admitted his desire to look at the transfer market for a solution but, one never came, leaving the Arsenal squad on their own to fight for silverware in 2024/25. 

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Mikel Arteta provides Bukayo Saka and Ben White injury update

Losing Saka was a huge blow for Arsenal, who watched their main threat in attack have to settle for the sidelines for the foreseeable future. 

As well as the winger, Ben White underwent surgery, seeing Arsenal’s favoured right-hand side disappear in a flash. 

While White has returned to Colney for training in some capacity, Saka is far behind, only just coming off crutches after hamstring surgery. 

With a short winter break coming up for the Gunners, the season will pause for just over a week, which could see the squad return with a boost.

Arteta confirmed such in his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle, sharing an update on White’s fitness status. 

“Ben is still out, hopefully back after the break,” the Arsenal manager revealed, with the right-back seemingly on the home straight of his recovery. 

As for Saka, there was a brief update from Arteta, as the boss said “not yet,” in response to being questioned if the winger was close to returning to action.

White return will be a huge boost for Arsenal

While missing Saka’s goals and Jesus’ energy is a given, losing White was a massive disappointment for Arsenal.

The Englishman does a lot on the right side, with his absence displaying just what the Gunners are missing with regard to how he links with the winger on his side and, his defensive contribution. 

• READ MORE: Harry Kane sends message to Ben White in strong demand as Arsenal defender eyes England return

That being said, it won’t be simple for White to walk back into the squad, with competition now rife as Jurrien Timber is doing a fine job on the right and Myles Lewis-Skelly is undroppable on the left.

Still, it’s great news that the 27-year-old is close to returning, in what has been a trialling season on the injury front for Arsenal.