Mikel Arteta let Ben White secret slip in Arsenal draw with Nottingham Forest

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Arsenal’s draw with Nottingham Forest handed arguably the final blow to the Gunners’ title hopes.

After losing to West Ham, Arsenal’s chances of winning the league decreased significantly, with the title now surely out of reach. 

For the second consecutive game, Mikel Arteta watched his side drop points, earning a draw against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. 

Once again, it was Arsenal’s lack of attacking spark that was a primary takeaway from the game, proving that the season’s injury woes have truly caught up with the squad. 

• READ MORE: Every injury Arsenal have suffered in 2024/25 including Bukayo Saka absence and more

Ben White used sparingly at the City Ground

Just like against West Ham, Arteta started Mikel Merino as a centre-forward, which is not working for the obvious reason that the summer signing is a midfielder.

During the game, Arsenal fans were surprised to see Riccardo Calafiori’s role alternate, as the Italian seemed to venture higher up the pitch on occasions. 

For all the threat that the 22-year-old brought, Calafiori was substituted at half-time after picking up an early booking but, it wasn’t only the early change that was a surprise. 

After Calafiori was humiliated against West Ham, some thought that naturally, Jurrien Timber would return to the left to cover for Myles Lewis-Skelly’s suspension, with Ben White taking up the right-back role. 

Instead, the Italy international was trusted again and, it wasn’t until the 85th minute that White was introduced from the bench.

Despite the fact that White returned during Arsenal’s Dubai trip, the Englishman has been used incredibly sparingly by Arteta, playing only nine Premier League minutes. 

With his late introduction against Forest, it became apparent that perhaps White is not as match fit as initially thought, with his inclusion presumed to be the best option for the Gunners.

It will be interesting to see how White features in Arsenal’s Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven, as Arteta seems to be protecting the defender following his injury. 

Nightmare season for White

After making his presence as Arteta’s favoured right back known over the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns, it’s been a bit of a nightmare season for the 27-year-old this term.

Having made only 11 Premier League appearances, White’s plan to progress even more in the Arsenal squad was derailed by injury, seeing the defender undergo surgery to avoid futher damage. 

It’s clear just how important White is to Arsenal, as his absence was impossible to ignore, particularly with Bukayo Saka also missing from the Gunners’ right side. 

Arteta might just be being overly cautious with the Englishman as he continues to return to full fitness, with a hint over his recovery shared through his lack of minutes at Forest.