Mikel Arteta reveals the reason behind limiting the “top player” to only four appearances for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the fitness of one of his key players ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming cup fixture against Brighton. The manager confirmed that a returning player has experienced a minor setback in his recovery process. Arsenal have faced several early-season injury concerns, notably involving Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke, but Ben White’s situation has drawn particular attention.

White has been in and out of the squad this season, mostly appearing as an unused substitute while continuing his recovery from a knee injury that required surgery last year. So far, he has only featured in four matches across all competitions. Addressing the situation, Arteta explained on Tuesday, “Yes, he had a bit of a setback, which hasn’t helped. In pre-season, he was probably our best performer — he played almost every game and was in excellent form. We need him because when Ben is at his best, he gives us another dimension and adds a real threat down that flank.”

The manager further elaborated that White’s absence has been a matter of careful management rather than exclusion. “It’s an injury that sidelined him for a few weeks, and we have to control his workload. He lacked rhythm, so we had to be cautious. Lately, he’s been training more, feeling much better, and he’ll be getting minutes soon.”

When asked if surgery should have happened sooner, Arteta deferred to the medical team, saying, “I’m not sure — that’s a question for the doctors. But we always aim to protect our players. Ben’s the kind who’ll play through anything; you have to check on him constantly because he’ll never admit he’s not okay. That determination is great, but the injury limited his consistency. Hopefully, he can now regain his rhythm, as the team really needs him.”

White’s immediate goal is to regain full fitness and reclaim a regular starting spot. Looking ahead, he’ll also have one eye on the upcoming World Cup next summer. Arteta concluded, “There’s still plenty of time before then. In football, things can change quickly. If Ben continues to work hard and earns that spot, we’ll be thrilled for him. He’ll definitely get many opportunities and minutes here.”