Benjamin White is in contention to return for Arsenal's Premier League clash against former club Leeds United on Sunday afternoon, Mikel Arteta has confirmed.
The England international missed last weekend's 2-1 win over West Ham United with a hamstring injury and watched on from the treatment table as his replacement Rob Holding scored the opener and was named Sky Sports' man-of-the-match at the London Stadium.
Interestingly, that was the first Premier League game White has missed for Arsenal through injury since joining from Brighton and Hove Albion for £50m last summer as his two previous absences - against Chelsea and Manchester City at the beginning of the season - were as a result of a positive Covid-19 test.
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But the 24-year-old is in line for a recall - potentially at the expense of Holding - when Leeds visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday with Arteta revealing what the central defender must do to be named in the matchday squad.
"Ben White is still in contention," the Spaniard revealed in his pre-match press conference at London Colney on Friday afternoon. He needs to train tomorrow. For the rest no news. Everyone should be ok."
News that White could return to the Arsenal starting line-up will certainly come as a massive boost for Arteta as he could name his first-choice central defensive pairing once again should he pick the former Leeds man alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in a back four that may also include Takehiro Tomiyasu and Nuno Tavares.
Furthermore, with no fresh injuries reported that means Tomiyasu and Bukayo Saka are fine despite being withdrawn in the second half against the Hammers and they'll be expected to play a big role against Leeds as the Gunners look to take a giant step towards qualifying for next season's Champions League.
