Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Ben White hasn’t trained since being substituted against Leeds on Tuesday night but he’s hopeful the defender might take part in a session this afternoon ahead of the trip to Leicester.
The Spaniard confirmed earlier in the week that a stomach bug had worked its way through the camp with Pablo Mari also forced to sit out the Carabao Cup clash.
“It was a bit of sickness and just feeling tummy aches and stuff like that,” said Arteta in his pre-game press conference. “Hopefully today everybody will be okay.
On White’s status, he added: “He hasn’t trained yet. We’ll have to wait for today to see how he’s feeling and make the decision.
“There are a few of them haven’t been able to train. We picked up some knocks during the game against Leeds as well. Hopefully today when everybody’s back, we’ll have better news.”
Having sat out the last two games with an injury, it sounds like Kieran Tierney is edging closer to full fitness.
“He’s progressing in training,” said Arteta. “Let’s see again how he is today. He felt a little bit better the last couple of days but he wasn’t 100 per cent to start the other day. Again, we’ll see what happens in the last 48 [editor – presumably he means 24] hours.”
We need them fit for as much of the season as possible, so let’s not rush them back.
Though I would love it if they are both fit and well enough to play, we can still play Holding and Tavares without too big a drop in quality.
I would want White to start and I am fairly certain he will. KT will not be rushed back considering his proneness to these niggles.
Leicester are in good form too and we need as settled a team as possible to get the win. So, these partnerships should continue – White/Gabriel and Partey/Sambi…Though I like Laca to partner with Auba, this is not the game for it and it would be Saka and ESR supporting Auba. And hope Odegaard finds some form too.
Let’s continue our unbeaten run. COYG.
so are you saying Odegaard in for Laca? Why is this not the game for Laca?
Leicester, being Leicester, will try to play on the break. As much as I love Laca, he’s not the best in controlling the game as a 10. And he played an hour against Leeds and was totally knackered. I don’t think he’s got what it takes to start another game with his lack of (match?) fitness away to Leicester. I would bring him on when we are leading 1-0 up around the hour mark and kill the game instead.
Well, that’s me. I am sure Arteta knows better but this is my hunch too.
enough with the dodgy korma Ben
I can read articles like this and feel at ease, because of Nuno
Did anyone see that clip recently showing who is the fastest in the squad in training? KT is fastest at 35km/h! That’s about as fast I can ride a bicycle at full speed!! It’s great to have Tavares as 2nd LB, I genuinely don’t think there’s a drop in quality and it allows KT to get back to his best and not have to be rushed back/risk re-injury like in the past. I don’t know when the last time we could say that about LB was! Maybe the days when Gibbs and Monreal were around, when Gibbs was playing well… Read more »
Correction, it was 37km/h, blimey that’s fast…
My kids show “a bit of sickness and …. tummy aches” and their school immediately assumes they have COVID and mandate they stay out of school for at least 10 days. Footballers feel ill and they still start a game?
Wish there was some parity.
Really? Wish the two situations were remotely comparable.