Arsenal will play host to Leeds United on Sunday in the Premier League but we are likely to be without Ben White for the clash.
The defender missed last weekend’s win over West Ham with a hamstring injury, with Rob Holding starring in his place, and Charles Watts has now confirmed that he remains unlikely to return to the starting line-up on Sunday also.
It wasn’t all bad news however, as he did claim that Takehiro Tomiyasu and Bukayo Saka are in much better condition, and should both be available when Mikel Arteta comes to naming his starting line-up.
“From what I understand – I was speaking to someone close to things yesterday – all three injury doubts [Tomiyasu, White and Saka] are in and around London Colney at the moment,” Watts told his YouTube followers.
“Ben White isn’t away having any treatment or anything like that. Ben White is there and he’s on the ground. I believe Tomiyasu and Saka have been training.
“I’m not 100% sure on Ben White. Those two will be fine, Ben White is the only major doubt. We’ll see what Mikel says at the press conference.
“Barring any injuries we don’t know about, Arsenal are looking strong. There’s slight talk Partey might be available this season but I highly doubt it.”
If Holding can keep up his form of last week, there is little to worry about in the absence of White, and it could well be more important that both Tomiyasu and Saka are set to be available on Sunday. Whatever happens, I’m sure the manager will have his players fully ready for the challenge of Leeds with four more potential ‘cup finals’ to play out in order to secure a place in the top-four.
Does Holding deserve to start irregardless of whether Ben White proves to be fully fit on Sunday?
Patrick
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
Video – Mikel Arteta Talks about Arsenal’s massive win over West Ham, injuries and the team’s “character”
I actually thought Holding looked far better than White has done recently. Holding has rarely lets us down and always plays too his best abilities.
We trusted him and there are no deadwoods in the arsenal of today and any player can do the job we saw holding yesterday, we saw pepe the other day when we were really in need of a player impacting the game at home against wolves so anyone can get the job done I’m only wary of tavarez in that wing!
Ben White is a marquee defender in my opinion.
He will looks immediately better the minute one or two genuinely defensive midfielders join us in the summer.
He continues to do well though there is room for improvement.
Holding deputizes well in his absence and seems to do the basics excellent without complicating things, he definitely has superior ariel power to Ben
Let him be rested for Tottenham game, this is the lineup I would like arteta to play against Tottenham;
Ramsdale
White Holding Gabriel
Tomiyasu Elneny Xhaka Martinelli
Saka Odegaard
Nketia
To keep everyone happy i think holding deserves to start regardless since he put in a solid performance last timeout and hey! This is arsenal, no automatic starting line up entry you’ve got to work your way into it.
I was watching the game Feyenood vs Marseilles and
frankly I can’t see the reason of us hyping Saliba over
f.instance Holding.. ?!! Guendozi had one good pass
similar to Elnenys against west ham.. With Martinelli
appearing to be fragile and needing protection we
have to sign a wold-class striker .
People tend to take the competitiveness and intensity of the EPL for granted.
Even “Champions League Varane” has struggled in the EPL though he was apparently a superstar at Real Madrid.
However, to be fair, until he gets decent opportunities to actually play in the EPL I’ll reserve my judgement of Saliba.
I’ve also always thought Guendounzi is nothing special. He’s just a younger El Neny in my opinion but only got the hype at the Arsenal because he was vocal on & off the pitch and combative on the pitch.
Kjelli, I watched it as well and couldn’t believe the crap football that was being played by both teams in the semi final of a European competition. Nothing special from Saliba.
We need Saliba & Guendouzi back to the team.they both play well.
Here comes another EPL comments.
You all just hype the league for no reasons.
Wasn’t Gabriel brought from France, partey from Spain, tomi from Italy ?? Out of all the players we have been linked to, how many of them play in EPL.. we have seen super stars of EPL failed in other leagues as well what does that make EPL?? .. it’s all hype and nothing more.
The EPL is more physical and full of gutsy triers.
A player is much more likely to become injury prone in the EPL as compared to other leagues in my opinion.
The EPL is a blood and sweat kind of league that any player needs to take note of before they join.
Not many easy points nowadays in the EPL, the likes of Leed, Brentford, Wolves, Palace, Newcastle, West Ham, Brighton are more likely to give any Top 4 / 6 teams a run for their points..
The quality is not that great at the momet but it’s the same for each and every European league. Not much Top talent that excit me anymore like during the 90’s and early 2000’s..
Well I totally agree but that doesn’t mean it’s the best in the world.
Probably most physical and competitive but wouldn’t say it’s the best in the world.
And going by physical alone we will be quick to right off all light weight players regardless of their abilities and talents.
Most greatest players didn’t even grace the EPL to begin with and you can’t say they are average players because they never played in EPL.
Our greatest duo striker were both failed in Italy back then and they came to the EPL and ran the show there.
Many of the top players we have in the league are foreign players..
I agree that some players might not be able to live with the physicality and tempo, but he doesn’t make them any lesser player to those who can. Just like the players are human, some of us find it difficult to adapt with new environment.
Then the way teams play should be putting into consideration as well which might not suit some players.
Which doesn’t make them bad player or unfit for the league
I never said that the EPL is tge best. All I said was that it has been the most competitive for going back to 2004 when Abramovich bought Chelsea.
You have teams like City, Liverpool, Chelsea, United, Spurs and an up / down Arsenal etc..
Then you have those other smaller giant killer clubs that always upsets the Top teams.
What I was saying is that a Top 4 / 6 club is more likely to to drop points in the EPL than the likes of Bayern, Juventus, Barcelona, Madrid and PSG in their respective league. You have very rough / physical players in the EPL that will rough up the anyone.
Hence why players that hardly ever get injured join the EPL from other league and then start sustaining constant injuries.. Checkout our Wenger era injury saga.
Tomiyas, Lokonga, Martinelli, Partey, currently..
That’s all I am saying, many defenders look so amazing in other leagues until they come to the EPL, then they start showing nervousness and become error prone (brain farts)..
Henry was never played as a striker Juve and Bergkamp played one season as a No10 and iirc was Inters top scorer as they won the UEFA Cup. Then in his last season he played the loan striker role in a 4-5-1 formation.
When joining us they both ended up playing in their normal positions.
Although Henry played out wide for Monaco and France, his natural position was the main striker. One of the few players that went to Clairfontaine without being attached to a club.
I agree with Gunsmokes post above and IMO he has said all the salient points. I think Holding is an able deputy but not in the class, as an all round player, of Ben White.
I ALSO THINK WHITE WILL BE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE STILL, WHEN OUR MIDFIELD AND DEFENSIVE NUMBERS ARE , PRESUMABLY , STRENGTHENED THIS SUMMER.
I wouldn’t rush back White too soon and play Rob!