Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal without star for at least a month after fresh injury

Arsenal only just maintained their slender lead atop the Premier League table last Saturday following a nervy 2-1 win over Wolves as Man City breathe down Mikel Arteta’s neck, so the last thing the Gunners need is more injuries.

They required two fortuitous own goals to overcome the league’s bottom side in north London, with goalkeeper Sam Johnstone deflecting Bukayo Saka’s corner into his own net after 70 minutes.

When substitute Tolu Arokodare equalised in the 90th, it appeared Arsenal would drop precious points before Yerson Mosquera headed past his own keeper four minutes into stoppage time.

Arteta’s side failed to register a single shot on target throughout the first half, which encapsulates a frustrating evening against a side who’ve managed just two points from 16 Premier League games.

Blockbuster summer signing Viktor Gyokeres also extended his barren run to five matches without scoring, while Gabriel Martinelli squandered three golden opportunities.

Arsenal’s resources are now being stretched perilously thin too.

Gabriel Magalhaes remains unavailable following a thigh injury sustained on international duty, with his return not anticipated until late December at the earliest.

Cristhian Mosquera’s ankle problem will sideline him until January after proving more severe than initially diagnosed, with Ben White recently becoming the latest in a long line of Arsenal casualties.

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The 28-year-old, who underwent knee surgery earlier this year and lost his place in the starting eleven to the in-form Jurrien Timber, now joins Gabriel, Mosquera, Max Dowman and Kai Havertz on the absentee list.

White was just starting to earn more regular minutes under Arteta, who said the ‘tremendous’ Englishman was getting back to the best version of himself.

Unfortunately for White, though, he’s now set for another extended spell on the sidelines after picking up a fresh injury against Wolves.

Ben White out for 'at least one month' after Arsenal injury blow

That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who says that the defender will be out for at least a month with Arsenal hoping he can return to action midway through January.

White suffered a hamstring injury just 30 minutes into last Saturday’s match while tracking back for a Wolves counterattack, with the full-back hauled off in what was a deeply frustrating moment for him.

The former Brighton star’s month-long absence creates significant problems for Arteta’s title-chasing side.

The versatile defender provides crucial cover at both right-back and right-centre-back — two positions now critically short following Mosquera’s ankle injury and Gabriel’s continued absence.

With Timber representing the only established alternative at right-back, Arsenal face a relentless festive fixture schedule without adequate rotation options.

Reports suggest that Arsenal could now turn to 16-year-old youngster Marli Salmon to help fill the void left by White, with the teenager now potentially set for a baptism of fire after only just making his debut last week.

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