Mikel Arteta has suggested that Arsenal have received a big boost ahead of their Champions League clash with Lens on Wednesday as he provided an update on Ben White.
Arteta was speaking – in comments reported by Football London – after the defender came on right at the very end of Saturday’s win at Brentford.
Ben White has been a stalwart throughout his time at Arsenal. However, he missed the win over Burnley before the international break. And he did not start against the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Mikel Arteta has good news concerning Ben White
Slightly alarmingly, White did not appear to train with the Arsenal team today. So some may have been expecting Mikel Arteta to rule the 26-year-old out of the tie with Lens.
However, Arteta shared that he is optimistic that the defender will be available.
“He trained the day before the Brentford game and was feeling good, I think he’ll be available for this game. That’s very good news for us,” he said, as reported by Football London.
Big boost for Arsenal
It is an important game for Arsenal. They do appear to have one foot in the knockout stages of the competition, having won three of their opening four games. A point on Wednesday will get them across the line.
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But it is also significant because Lens inflicted Arsenal’s first defeat of the season upon them. The Gunners were poor over in France after taking the lead. And they paid the price as the Ligue 1 side came from behind to win.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is a very dependable performer for the Gunners. However, White has been a revelation in the right-back role over the last year or so.
His presence also appears to help bring the best of Bukayo Saka. So it is indeed a big deal that he appears to be feeling good ahead of Wednesday’s game.