Arsenal star Ben White undergoes procedure but is ready to play through pain barrier to return to action
BEN WHITE has undergone a minor procedure during this international break.
The Arsenal defender has been suffering with “joint” issues for the past few weeks in what has been an injury-hampered season for the 27-year-old so far.
But after playing the full 90 minutes for the Gunners in their 1-1 draw away at Chelsea on Sunday, White has used this break to try and fix an ongoing problem.
SunSport understands this procedure should not keep White out for the long-term, and the player is ready to play through the pain barrier to return to action as soon as possible.
It is also understood that despite suffering from reported groin pain, this is not the reason for the procedure.
White started the first four Prem games of the campaign – as well as a 0-0 draw away at Atalanta in the Champions League in September – before coming off the bench to play 45 minutes in the 2-2 draw away at Manchester City on September 22.
After that, he missed the next four games in all competitions before returning to start Arsenal’s next three from mid-October against Bournemouth, Shakhtar Donetsk and Liverpool.
Another off-the-bench appearance away at this month Newcastle followed but he has started Arsenal’s last two games – the 1-0 loss at Inter Milan and the recent draw at Stamford Bridge.
However, boss Mikel Arteta has been protective of his right-back since the start of the season, hoping that this latest correction will see him back to full fitness and sharpness.
Before the Toon trip, Arteta said of White: “He could not train, he could not get involved so let’s see what happens.
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“This is relating more to a joint.”
Despite this brief setback, Arsenal’s injury issues appear to be clearing up with skipper Martin Odegaard playing a full Prem 90 against Chelsea for the first time since August 31.
The Norwegian suffered an ankle ligament injury on September 9 on international duty but is now expected to be back for the foreseeable future after returning unscathed.
Riccardo Calafiori has been out for the past three weeks following a knee knock against Shakhtar, but there is hope he can make his comeback after the international break.
Bukayo Saka [muscular] and Declan Rice [toe] – the latter playing with a broken toe against Chelsea – have pulled out of this month’s England camp to focus on recovery.
Arsenal face Nottingham Forest on November 23 before trips to Sporting Lisbon and West Ham, beginning December by hosting Manchester United on December 4.