Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes in Fitness Race for Champions League Qualification - ArsenalGist

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Friday, May 13, 2022

Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes in Fitness Race for Champions League Qualification




Arsenal sweat over White and Gabriel's fitness ahead of top-four race for Champions League. The club now face an important end to the season following a 3-0 loss to Tottenham.

Mikel Arteta's side still sit fourth in the Premier League, but the battle for Champions League football is far from over.

North London rivals Spurs are just a point behind the Gunners in fifth. Behind Antonio Conte's side sit Manchester United and West Ham in sixth and seventh respectively, though both are out of the race for top-four.

While Bukayo Saka has returned for injury ahead of the final pair of fixtures in the calendar, the Arsenal boss still has a number of injuries to key players. So, football.london take a look at all of the fitness issues Arteta has to deal with.

Gabriel Magalhaes was substituted in the second half of the against Tottenham after appearing to damage his hamstring. He fell to the floor and clutched his upper leg.

Rob Holding was sent off earlier in the match, meaning that the Gunners finished the game with no central defenders on the pitch. Ben White was not introduced after missing the last two matches with injury.

Speaking on the Brazilian's situation in the post-match interview with Sky Sports, Arteta said: "He felt something so hopefully Ben is fit and Gabriel too otherwise we don’t have too many players available in the back line."

"It's a muscular injury," the Spaniard added. "Gabby normally is not a player that asks to come off the pitch so he’s done something and hopefully it’s not much because with Rob out and Ben having no training sessions we are really short in that position."

White has been instrumental for Arteta's side since he signed from Brighton for £50million last summer. The England international offers a calming presence alongside the more physically dominant Magalhaes, with the two centre-backs forming a solid partnership at the back.

However, White has been sidelined in recent weeks, missing wins 2-1 wins against West Ham United and Leeds United due to a hamstring strain. He was also opted against in the north London derby when Gabriel was pulled from proceedings.

Speaking about the 24-year-old's fitness in his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Arteta said: "To take a risk in the situation of the game, it was not worth it. Now, we focus on Newcastle - hopefully Ben is fit."

Thomas Partey has been out of action with a thigh injury since last month's 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The Ghanaian international won't be fit to play against Tottenham but football.london understands that the 28-year-old has been taking part in individual training sessions each day with the target of being back in the first team squad within the "next few weeks".

A source told football.london that the current best-case scenario for Partey would be for the tough-tackling midfielder to return for the final game of the season against Everton later this month. Still, the Gunners' medical staff are keen not to rush him back and complicate his recovery.

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