Arsenal defender Ben White is seemingly not with the squad for the game against Burnley this afternoon, adding to Mikel Arteta’s selection issues.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Ben White of Arsenal warms up prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on October 21, 2023. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Ben White of Arsenal warms up prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on October 21, 2023. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

As the Arsenal squad left their hotel to travel to the Emirates Stadium for the game against Burnley on Saturday afternoon, a couple of fans spotted that Ben White wasn’t with the squad.

There had been no suggestion of an injury for the defender ahead of Saturday morning, with the player pictured taking part in training on Friday.

But it seems White is not available for the match, which could go some way to explaining Reuell Walters’ reported presence in Saturday’s squad.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Ben White of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on October 21, 2023. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Ben White of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on October 21, 2023. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Walters is a right-back who also regularly plays at centre-back for the Arsenal youth teams, so he fills a very similar role for the Arsenal u21s as White does for the first team.

The good news is that Takehiro Tomiyasu was pictured with the squad at the hotel on Friday night, so he seems to have avoided a setback after the scare in midweek.

If Tomiyasu is available to start, Arsenal could use a back four of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, and Tomiyasu, which is still a very strong defensive line.

SEVILLE, SPAIN - OCTOBER 24: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between Sevilla FC and Arsenal FC at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on October 24, 2023 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
SEVILLE, SPAIN: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between Sevilla FC and Arsenal FC at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on October 24, 2023. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The worry now is the lack of depth for the Gunners, with Jurrien Timber also out through injury.

The only other senior defenders available are Jakub Kiwior and Cedric Soares.

After that, you’re looking to the academy and the likes of Walters to plug gaps.