How Mikel Arteta’s returning star is of growing importance both on and off the pitch for Arsenal

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Arsenal are now well into their mid-season break in Dubai and will be looking to enjoy the sun and time out of the spotlight of a gruelling season.

The break hasn’t started off well and Arsenal fans have reacted to Gabriel Martinelli’s injury to add to Mikel Arteta’s attacking woes.

Martinelli will miss some vital Arsenal fixtures and the onus is now very much on Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri to help support Kai Havertz in attack.

One positive for Arsenal is Ben White has returned to first team training and the importance of the defender in the coming months will increase following the team’s recent setbacks.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta’s top ten moments as Arsenal manager, including a statement signing and an FA Cup triumph

Ben White needs to show leadership both on and off the pitch for Arsenal

White has been magnificent for Arsenal since his arrival from Brighton and has silenced any doubters over his £50m price tag.

Jurrien Timber has excelled in White’s absence but the return of the England international is a huge positive for the club both on and off the pitch.

Myles Lewis-Skelly has been one of the positives of the season for the Gunners alongside Nwaneri and now the young full back can learn even more from the returning White.

White is hugely admired both on and off the pitch at the Emirates Stadium and can be a great role model for Lewis-Skelly in learning the full back role on the pitch and how to conduct himself off the pitch too.

Arsenal’s big characters can guide them through tough period

Arteta has moulded together a tight-knit group of players at the club and has a number of big characters in the dressing room to call upon through this tough period.

In reality, Arsenal have lost just three times in their last 22 outings however, those losses crashed them out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup and with the injury crisis, there is now huge pressure to deliver either the Premier League or Champions League.

Now is the time for leaders such as captain Martin Odegaard, midfield general Declan Rice and defender Gabriel Magalhaes to galvanise the Arsenal squad and keep them focused on the remainder of the campaign.

If the Gunners can come through this tricky period unscathed, the momentum and belief that the players would have undoubtedly gained could be something so powerful that Arsenal would be difficult to stop.