'He is improving day by day' - Mikel Arteta offers promising update on Ben White's injury recovery after defender undergoes surgery

White underwent surgery on a knee injury he had been carrying for a lengthy period. He joined Takehiro Tomiyasu on the list of full-backs sidelined by injury, leaving the Gunners short at the back - reliant on Jurrien Timber as the only fit, naturally right-sided defender. Arteta had confirmed that White would be sidelined for months, but has offered hope that he may return to fitness sooner than expected.

Ahead of the Gunners' game with West Ham, Arteta said: "The surgery went really well, there is no reaction after that. He is improving day by day but it is a process for the first four to six weeks.

“We have to be really cautious and don’t put any stress on that knee and then we will see how quickly he can recover and how it reacts after that."

White has been a revelation at right-back and has been integral to their title challenges in the previous two campaigns. However, he has been in-and-out of the side this season, with Jurrien Timber providing strong competition. Despite this, Arteta will be keen to have the English defender back as soon as possible with White able to fill in at centre-half if required too, especially amid fears surrounding Gabriel's fitness after a knock against Sporting CP.

Arsenal travel across London to take on West Ham on Saturday evening hoping to put the squeeze on title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool - facing one another at Anfield on Sunday. White will have to watch on from the sidelines but will be racing to be fit in the new year and play a crucial role in the season’s run-in.