Arsenal injury latest: No Saka setback, White boost ahead of Leicester clash | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says Ben White is back available for selection for Saturday’s trip to Leicester City.

The defender has been out since November after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.

But he has been involved in team training while in Dubai during Arsenal’s break in action and Arteta says he is ready to be involved again.

“Ben has been training more regularly,” Arteta said.

“We still have to manage his load but he is going to be available, yes.”

Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, continues to work his way back from a hamstring injury which has kept him out since December.

But Arteta says he is not expected back any time soon.

He explained: “With a long-term injury, what is faster? In a ten-day injury, three days is a lot because it’s 30 percent. In three months, probably a week is not that much.

“It’s too early. He’s in a very early stage of the rehab. When he starts to get a little bit closer and starts to do more demanding stuff in terms of the load, we will see where he is.”

Asked if there had been a setback in Saka’s recovery, Arteta responded: “No, he’s fine.”

Arteta has been left with very few attacking options after another serious injury blow, this time to forward Kai Havertz who is likely to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

As well as Saka and Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are also sidelined.

Martinelli also has a hamstring injury while Jesus will not be back until next season after injuring his ACL.

Arsenal have been hit hard by injuries this season with several other key players also missing significant game time, including captain Martin Odegaard.

And the Gunners boss admits the current schedule and demands on players is making life very difficult.

“The evidence we can provide is very limited in many aspects and every case is different,” he said.

“But obviously some of them we know are because of load and minutes. It’s inevitable.

“We have players injured who have played 130 games in the last two seasons. So in the end, it is an accident waiting to happen.

“If you continue to load and load and load, this season is it an accumulation of that? Is it the stress of that? Is it luck, preparation or methodology?

“There are a lot of factors and it’s very difficult to point out something but obviously the schedule that is planned is super demanding, especially for certain players like the explosive players, it’s becoming a real issue.”