Ben White ruled out for MONTHS in major blow to Arsenal title hopes, confirms Mikel Arteta

MIKEL ARTETA has ruled Ben White out for MONTHS due to injury.

It comes as a blow for Arsenal's title hopes with the star defender sidelined amid an ongoing knee problem.

Arteta said: “Ben is gonna be out for months. It’s been different kinds of struggles. It’s never been the same thing. It’s not been improving.

"It got to a point a where we have to protect the player. Unfortunately it’s going to be a few months.”

White was forced into surgery due to his knee injury which also kept him out earlier on in the season.

The right-back has made nine appearances this season but looks to be out into the new year.

Arsenal sit fourth in the table with just one win in their last five games, losing ground on rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

White is not Arsenal's only injury woe with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice also doubts for Nottingham Forest's visit to the Emirates on Saturday.

Both had a "partial" training sessions while Leandro Trossard was also out on the pitch after being forced off for Belgium on international duty.

Meanwhile Riccardo Calafiori picked up a knee injury in October and has since missed five matches.

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But Arteta said: "Riccy trained today. His rehab has gone really well. He will be in the squad."

Takehiro Tomiyasu has only played one match this season amid a knee injury and remains sidelined.

Arteta said: "He’s gonna be away now for a few weeks to continue with his treatment and change his environment a bit.

"He’s a guy that will work 24 hours to be fit and he feels terrible being out. Hopefully it can unlock him."