Arsenal right-back Ben White is still playing through a long-term fitness issue, according to a report.

Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail confirms that Ben White has been playing with an uncomfortable long-term fitness issue, with club medics still working to find a solution.

Football insider Team News and Ticks had previously reported that White was nursing a knock, despite the right-back playing regularly for the Gunners in recent weeks.

White had an injury absence in November, and though he only missed one game, it took until December for him to return to the starting lineup.

Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury forced White back into the lineup, but it seems he’s still not 100% fit.

With Jurrien Timber also absent through injury, and makeshift right-back Thomas Partey out as well, White is one of very few options currently available for Mikel Arteta.

Tomiyasu returned to the squad and to the pitch against Fulham, but he’ll be off to the AFC Asian Cup after the FA Cup clash with Liverpool, and he was being used at left-back anyway.

Arteta can also call on Cedric Soares, as he did in the Champions League dead rubber against PSV Eindhoven, but Cedric hasn’t been trusted in a game of any great significance for a long while now.

The same is even more applicable to youth prospect Reuell Walters. Mikel Arteta clearly likes the youngster, but he didn’t even trust him to play in the PSV match, let alone a vital Premier League clash.

The good news is that Arsenal have a break coming up. The Gunners will have almost a fortnight off between the matches against Liverpool and Crystal Palace, assuming they don’t need to play a cup replay.