Mikel Arteta is waiting for fitness updates on both Gabriel and Ben White ahead of Arsenal’s must win game against Newcastle on Monday night.

Ben White was only fit enough to warm Arsenal’s bench against Tottenham on Thursday night while Gabriel picked up a muscular injury during the game.

After the game, Arteta suggested Gabriel’s request for a substitution meant it was an issue worth noting, but they needed to assess him further before drawing conclusions.

“I don’t know,” Arteta began.

“Gabi is normally not a player who wants to or asks to come off the pitch, he felt something and hopefully it’s not much, because having Rob out [suspended] and Ben with no training sessions, obviously we are really short in that position.

“It’s a muscular problem, and we’ll have to assess him.”

Speaking his his press conference before the Newcastle game, Arteta was asked about both Gabriel and White, and which of Arsenal’s defenders are actually fit.

“It’s a good question!” Arteta replied.

“We will know probably more tomorrow, so we wanted to extend this period as much as possible to understand how they are recovering, how they are feeling, assess them and tomorrow probably we will know more about how they are.”