Arsenal news: Gunners get injury boost for West Ham as Mikel Arteta makes ‘obsessed’ admission

Arsenal face West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and will be able to call upon Ben White after the defender was passed fully fit by Mikel Arteta

Arsenal take on West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday, trying once again to cut the gap to league-leaders Liverpool.

The Gunners have enjoyed a full week off since their 2-0 win over Leicester last weekend and should be full of confidence ahead of their 3pm kick-off against West Ham, who have won just one of their six games under Graham Potter so far.

There is an 11-point gap to Liverpool before the weekend’s action, but Arsenal can at least apply some pressure by beating the Hammers, with Arne Slot’s side not in action until Sunday afternoon at Manchester City. Mikel Arteta is maintaining a positive outlook for now, knowing that lots can change in the 13 games between now and the end of the season.

The Arsenal boss spoke to the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday – and his comments make up much of the latest news from Mirror Football.

White back fit

There hasn’t been much good news on the injury front for Arsenal of late, with Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu ruled out for the season following surgery. Thankfully, the absence of Tomiyasu is partly alleviated by the return from injury of Ben White, who is available to play against West Ham after sitting on the bench at Leicester.

“No real news to be fair. The ones who are long-term remain unavailable,” Arteta said. “The rest available. Ben is ready to play. He’s certainly available now to be part of the group.”

White has been absent since the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on November 10. He has missed 21 matches during that period, having undergone surgery to correct a nagging problem with his knee. He could compete with Jurrien Timber for a place at right-back.

Champions League pathway

Arsenal will play PSV Eindhoven in the last 16 of the Champions League after the draw was completed on Friday. After finishing third, Arteta’s side did not have to get through a play-off and will have the advantage of playing the second leg at home.

The Gunners thrashed PSV 4-0 in the group stages of the Champions League back in September 2023 before drawing 1-1 away in the final match, knowing their progression was secure already.

If they repeat the trick this time around, Arsenal will play the winner of Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid in the quarter finals. Their semi-final opponents will then be one of Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge or Aston Villa.

Arteta obsessed with title

During his press conference, Arteta was asked whether he was obsessed with trying to win the Premier League title with Arsenal. “I’m obsessed with doing everything that I possibly can every single day to achieve it, that’s my obsession,” he replied.

Pressed further, he added: “I’m very obsessed by the process of it. That one, yeah, it consumes my whole day. Yes, I guarantee you that. But it’s the process, how you get there. The outcome, I cannot control it.”

And asked about the momentum his team have, having gone 15 league games unbeaten, he said: “That’s what we need and that’s a very important thing. When your energy and your belief increases, results are behind you, performances are good and everybody is having that shift in energy and belief. I think anything can happen.”

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