‘Very very special’ Arsenal star would’ve taken Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard to the next level this season, says Mikel Arteta

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Arsenal’s injury problems and ill-discipline finally caught up with them during a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United.

Defeat leaves Arsenal eleven points off the pace in the Premier League title race and facing an uphill battle despite Mikel Arteta believing the Premier League is still possible.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	27	19	7	1	64	26	38	64
2	ArsenalArsenal	26	15	8	3	51	23	28	53

Arsenal’s injury crisis this season came to a head during the loss at the Emirates Stadium as Arteta simply had no options to change the momentum in the game.

Arsenal fans were angry at Martin Odegaard’s performance but the return of one long-term absentee could give the Gunners a timely boost ahead of a tough trip to Nottingham Forest.

READ MORE: “I’m not going to…” – Mikel Arteta hits back at claims that Arsenal should sack him

Mikel Arteta lauds Ben White following return from injury

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Nottingham Forest, Arteta has discussed the return of defender Ben White and the importance of him to the Arsenal squad.

Arteta was clearly relieved about the England international’s return to fitness and stated: “A player that has given us something very very special especially in the right unit.”

However, the Spanish boss was quick to point out that White’s absence has meant that a huge part of Arsenal’s attacking threat has been dismantled this season.

Arteta explained: “We haven’t been able to play the right unit at all this season with him Bukayo [Saka] and Martin [Odegaard], a unit that has played so much football together so it’s great to have him back with his the way he plays, his energy around the team and what he creates he has certainly been missed.”

White, Saka and Odegaard trio has rarely been seen

Having contributed so much as an attacking threat down the right-hand side in the previous two campaigns, the Gunners have been starved of having their usual dynamic trio this season.

White has started just four league games Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard both in the side and it comes as no surprise that the Gunners are unbeaten in those matches.

The failure to get all three on the pitch has been one of the reasons for Arsenal’s shortcomings however, with Saka due to return in mid-March there is hope that the Gunners can yet rediscover their threat.

With the title dream fading, all of the focus could be on the Champions League and the trio of White, Odegaard and Saka may just have that freshness to inspire European glory.