Ben White injury update provides boost for Arsenal | OneFootball

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Arsenal defender Ben White is closing on a return to action with the club, with the player now back in training on the grass.

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Sami Mokbel reports for the Daily Mail that Ben White is closing in on a return to availability following his absence with a knee injury. Mokbel writes that White is now back training on the grass at London Colney, and he’s close to making his comeback.

The report did not clarify whether or not White was in full training with the team but at his pre-Wolves press conference, Mikel Arteta confirmed that he is not.

Asked how the defender is, Arteta said, “Very good. He hasn’t trained with the team yet, but I think he is very close to doing that. He needs to still tick a few boxes in the next two or three days. If that is all going well and smoothly, I think he will be with us pretty soon.”

White has been out of action since mid-November, when he underwent knee surgery. The defender had struggled with knee problems, with three separate absences in the 12 months leading up to the surgery. The hope is that he can put that behind him now.

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Arsenal are low on options at both right-back and right-centre-back at the moment, so White’s return is certainly a welcome one. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba will both be grateful for the opportunities to rest a little more often, with Saliba also on his way back from a hamstring injury.

The picture will look even better once Takehiro Tomiyasu returns, giving Mikel Arteta three strong options at right-back and four at right-centre-back. But there’s no word yet on the Japan international’s exact return date.

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Arsenal have been cursed with injuries on the right of the defence recently, with even academy right-back Josh Nichols confirming that he’s out with a “long-term” injury.

With any luck, White’s return signals the start of a better spell for the club in his position.