West Ham 1-2 Arsenal: 4 positives and negatives from key win

Negative #2 – Benjamin White Injury and Knocks All Round

Absent from training in the days leading up to West Ham, if there is a theory to have about Benjamin White it is probably that the knock he’s been carrying for a few games (Arteta mentioned one before the United game) is one he’s had to ride out until Tomiyasu returned.

Once the right-back was able to start his additional defensive solidity meant White could take time to let his hamstring recover. That’s a theory, anyway.

However, Arteta said more tests would be needed before determining whether he’d be fit to come back against his former side.

"“Ben got injured against Manchester United, he felt a muscular problem and we checked him, and we will have to access him in the next few days to see how he is,” Arteta said."

Fortunately it was reassuring news on the other two injuries, with Saka and Tomiyasu both sitting on the bench after their withdrawals and the manager seeming to hint that cramp was the key reason. Still, Saka seems to be struggling in most games now. It’s a concern.

"“Bukayo was fine, he was really fatigued and he has been through a little injury as well,” he added. “Tomiyasu has just that he had been out for so long and could not continue.”"

But in the case of White he’s a huge loss. Holding does brilliantly in one side of the game but lacks the quality in possession that White offers. How and where he progresses the ball is so key to Arsenal, as witnessed in the first half of the West Ham game where Xhaka and Elneny struggled to penetrate the hosts’ front three, and Saka wasn’t getting the service in behind.

Seemingly unbreakable, White’s first injury of the season is not especially well timed.

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