Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez vies for the ball with Arsenal's Ben White, right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Arsenal defender Ben White undergoes knee surgery and is out several months

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal right back Ben White will be sidelined for “a few months” after having surgery to fix a nagging knee injury, manager Mikel Arteta said Friday.

The 27-year-old White had been playing through the problem but agreed during the international break that surgery was the best solution.

“We had to make a decision. It’s not been improving the last few weeks,” Arteta said at a news conference. “We know that Ben is going to push every boundary. But it got to a point where we had to protect the player. We decided to do the surgery — he agreed with that. Obviously, that is going to keep him out for a few months.”

When asked for a specific timeframe, Arteta responded: “We have to see how he reacts post-surgery. I don’t expect it to be half-a-year, but I cannot tell you exactly.”

Arsenal hosts Nottingham Forest on Saturday and will try to create some separation from one of the surprises of the Premier League season. Both teams are on 19 points, with the Gunners in fourth place on goal difference.

Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, left, vies for the ball with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The manager had better news for Arsenal fans regarding the fitness of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori. They all participated in team training Friday.

Arsenal’s Declan Rice, left, vies for the ball with Chelsea’s Noni Madueke during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

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