Arsenal are set to be without defender Ben White for some months with the England international sidelined amid an ongoing knee problem.
White was forced into surgery due to his knee injury which also kept him out earlier on in the season. The right-back has made nine appearances this season but looks to be out into the new year.
Arteta said: “Ben is gonna be out for months. It’s been different kinds of struggles. It’s never been the same thing. It’s not been improving.
“It got to a point where we have to protect the player. Unfortunately it’s going to be a few months.”
The right-back has made nine appearances this season but looks to be out into the new year.
White is not Arsenal’s only injury woe with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice also doubts for Nottingham Forest’s visit to the Emirates on Saturday.
Both had a “partial” training sessions while Leandro Trossard was also out on the pitch after being forced off for Belgium on international duty.
Meanwhile Riccardo Calafiori picked up a knee injury in October and has since missed five matches.
Takehiro Tomiyasu has only played one match this season amid a knee injury and remains sidelined.
Arsenal sit fourth in the table with just one win in their last five games, losing ground on rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
