Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hopeful of having Ben White back in the fold for Thursday's gargantuan North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old was a notable absentee from the side to face West Ham United last weekend, and Arsenal subsequently revealed that he was dealing with a tight hamstring.
Arteta claimed that White was in with a good chance of featuring against Leeds United on Sunday, but the centre-back did not make the squad and instead watched on from the stands with his partner.
Rob Holding has deputised well in White's absence, though, and he scored his first Premier League goal in a man-of-the-match performance during the victory over West Ham alongside match-winner Gabriel Magalhaes.
While Holding will be in no mood to lose his spot for the North London derby, Arteta expects to have White fit and available for the crunch clash with Antonio Conte's side.
© Reuters
When asked for an update on White's fitness in his post-match press conference, Arteta responded: "I think so [he will be available]. He's starting to do a little bit of work on the pitch. We want everyone available."
White has racked up 36 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions since his £50m move from Brighton last summer, making 31 Premier League starts and keeping 13 clean sheets.
The England international's return could see him resume his partnership with Gabriel or used as a makeshift right-back ahead of Cedric Soares, with Holding therefore keeping his place and Takehiro Tomiyasu featuring at left-back over Nuno Tavares.
Arteta also eased fears over Bukayo Saka's withdrawal on Sunday, so only Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney should be absent for the Gunners for the North London derby.
Arsenal moved four points clear of Tottenham in the Premier League table after Eddie Nketiah's quickfire brace in a 2-1 win over the Whites but made hard work of it after Luke Ayling's straight red card.
© Reuters
The Gunners had to ride out a nervy finish after Diego Llorente's header but ultimately held on at the Emirates, and victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would see them return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Nketiah's brace against former club Leeds saw him become only the second-ever Arsenal player to score twice in the opening 10 minutes of a Premier League game after Nwankwo Kanu, and Arteta was full of praise for the striker after the game.
"He's doing what he's done all season, whether he's been on the bench or at home or when he's on the pitch," Arteta told Sky Sports News. "This boy doesn't change, that's why we absolutely adore him.
"He deserves what is happening to him. He's still got a lot to do but he has the right environment and the right personnel around him, and now he's going to get judged for what he does when he's on the pitch - before he didn't have that context."
Even if Arsenal suffer defeat in the North London derby, fourth place will still be in their own hands ahead of their final games of the Premier League season with Newcastle United and Everton.
Ben Knapton
