Arteta delighted with impact of 'tremendous' White as Arsenal prepare for Villa test

Mikel Arteta is thrilled to have "tremendous" Ben White back in action as Arsenal ready themselves for a tricky trip to Aston Villa.

White has struggled with injury this season and has also found himself behind Jurrien Timber in the pecking order.

However, the defender returned to Arteta's starting XI on Wednesday, helping Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Brentford at Emirates Stadium in what was just his second top-flight appearance of 2025-26.

White assisted Mikel Merino's 11th-minute opener. Each of his last five assists in the Premier League have put his side ahead in the match, with three of these coming against Brentford. 

And while Timber may well be back in the XI on Saturday at Villa Park, Arteta is delighted to be able to call on the experience of White if required.

"Personally, I'm very, very happy for him as a human being," Arteta said.

"I think the rest of the team is the same because he's a player who has always played for us, and sadly, because of the right reasons, he wasn't playing that much.

"Because Jurrien [Timber] has been excellent, and he was out for a while, and then he needed to earn his place.

"But his attitude has been so positive, so good. Then, when you are ready, and you're given the opportunity, you take it like he did.

"So I'm very happy that we have him back in the best version of himself as well, and we're going to need him because he's a tremendous player."

For his part, White is taking his comeback on a game-by-game basis.

He told Arsenal's website: "Last week was a big week, and you need to follow up the following week, so it was really important to win.

"It's like any game that we win, it's so important for us, and we're just going to take it game by game. I've missed it."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins

Watkins scored twice in Villa's 4-3 win over Brighton last time out, having netted just twice in his previous 18 Premier League games.

The striker also has six goals in 10 Premier League games against Arsenal, only netting more against the Seagulls (nine).

Arsenal – Mikel Merino

While Viktor Gyokeres has returned to fitness, Merino has played brilliantly, scoring twice in as many league games over the past week.

Merino scored his 11th Premier League goal when he opened the scoring against Brentford, his ninth in 2025 – more than any other Arsenal player in the competition this year.

In fact, since the start of last season, no Premier League player has scored more headed goals in all competitions than Merino, heading in eight of his 14 goals in that time.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Aston Villa – 28.9%

Draw – 24.5%

Arsenal – 46.6%