LAEST NEWS》 Arsenal star suffers injury setback ahead of Champions League second-leg clash against Real Madrid

Mikel Arteta has revealed that Arsenal star is now a doubt for the UEFA Champions League second-leg clash against Real Madrid

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

Arsenal were unable to build on their emphatic Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Real Madrid, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

With several key players rested or sidelined, Mikel Arteta rotated his squad heavily. Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Mikel Merino started on the bench, while Ben White was left out of the squad entirely due to a knock. Declan Rice, who was also a fitness concern, managed to make the starting lineup.

The Gunners lacked rhythm in a cagey first half, with Kieran Tierney’s disallowed goal being the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock. Arsenal finally found the opener just before the hour mark, as Thomas Partey capped off a swift counter-attack involving Rice and goalkeeper David Raya.

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Arteta then introduced Saka, Ødegaard, and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly in an attempt to inject more energy, but Brentford struck back 13 minutes later through Yoane Wissa, who netted an acrobatic equaliser.

Ben White injury

Ben White is a doubt ahead of Real Madrid clash (Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite Arsenal’s late efforts to snatch a winner, the Bees held firm, and the Gunners were forced to settle for a draw—dropping two valuable points in the title race.

Attention now shifts back to Europe, with Arsenal facing Real Madrid in the decisive second leg of their Champions League tie at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday. However, Arteta has revealed that Ben White is now a doubt for the clash.

“Ben White couldn’t be in the squad because he felt something again post-training yesterday,” Arteta explained before kick-off. “That limits the solutions we have because Jurrien [Timber] wasn’t ready to start the game either. Other players have played a lot of minutes and some deserved the chance to help the team.”

White had come on as a late substitute during Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Madrid in midweek, but his latest setback adds to the growing list of concerns for Arteta ahead of a defining European night in Spain.