Arsenal handed nightmare Ben White scenario as Mikel Arteta problem emerges

Arsenal have potentially seen defender Ben White play for the final time in 2024 following his latest medical procedure.

On Wednesday it was confirmed by football.london that White had gone under the knife to correct joint problems that had plagued his recent run in the team. It is set to be blow heading into the busy festive period given how important he had been for Mikel Arteta amidst other injuries throughout the squad.

The 27-year-old had started 10 matches, making a total 12 appearances already this campaign, mainly as the right back in the Gunners' set-up, but sometimes as a central defender.

For what was put down to be a knee injury, he had missed meetings with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Southampton and Leicester City in the Premier League, plus both Carabao Cup ties played so far. To prevent him from playing through pain, the decision has been made now during the November international break to get the surgery over and done with.

White begins on a pathway to recovery at first undeterminable how long it would be, though reports from outlets such as The Mirror suggest he is due to spend the next weeks working towards full match fitness.

As natural stand-in Jurrien Timber has been filling in for Riccardo Calafiori at left back in recent weeks, but now Arteta is due to have a major juggling act on his hands. If the eight weeks suggested is indeed correct, this is going to go on for the next 12 matches in all competitions.

In order, these are the matches White would miss in that scenario:

November 23 vs Nottingham Forest (H) at 3pm - Premier League.

November 26 vs Sporting CP (A) at 8pm - Champions League.

November 30 vs West Ham (A) at 5.30pm - Premier League.

December 4 vs Manchester United (H) at 8.15pm - Premier League.

December 8 vs Fulham (A) at 2pm - Premier League.

December 11 vs AS Monaco (H) at 8pm - Champions League.

December 14 vs Everton (H) at 3pm - Premier League.

December 18 vs Crystal Palace (H) at 7.30pm - Carabao Cup QF.

December 21 vs Crystal Palace (A) at 5.30pm - Premier League.

December 27 vs Ipswich Town (H) at 8.15pm - Premier League.

January 1 vs Brentford (A) at 5.30pm - Premier League.

January 4 vs Brighton (H) at 5.30pm - Premier League.

If these are the matches White is to miss, it could make an FA Cup third round tie against an as-yet undetermined opponent the first he is available to feature in following his recovery. If not that then it would be the home North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on January 15.

In this run there are fixtures against several domestic opponents capable of further damaging Arsenal's title challenge. Nottingham Forest have taken points from Liverpool and Chelsea already this term, Brentford have collected all 16 of their points on home soil and lastly Brighton most recently came from behind to beat Manchester City.

The Gunners must also be wary of the fact they have slipped further from the top of the Champions League tree, with second-placed Sporting CP and third-placed AS Monaco not planning on allowing them to catch up if they can help it.

However, the speculative reports are suggesting that he will be able and willing to play through the pain threshold once again to make an earlier return, perhaps as early as six weeks after the surgery. If this turns out to be the case then his availability would come after nine games missed, and he could fight for a place in the squad for the December 27 clash with Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

The festive period is notoriously busy with fixtures coming thick and fast, meaning Arteta now has a problem on his hands to work out how to successfully navigate the run while keeping his squad fresh.

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