£50m Arsenal star misses training ahead of Ipswich game after injury, 17-year-old could replace him
Arsenal have had a perfect start to the season with six straight wins and will aim to extend the run against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup third round tonight.
Ahead of the game at Portman Road, manager Mikel Arteta could be without the services of right-back Ben White, who picked up an apparent groin injury against Sunderland.
The Englishman was in distress before the half-time interval and was unsurprisingly replaced by Jurrien Timber, who made his first appearance of the season.
White has started every match for the Gunners this campaign, but he looks poised to miss tonight’s clash, having not been spotted training in Monday’s session.
The Gunners posted training photos on their official website yesterday, and White was the latest absentee. Cristhian Mosquera and William Saliba remain sidelined.
Marli Salmon could make surprise start vs Ipswich
White has been hampered by injuries over the past few years. He returned from a knee injury sustained in May to make a bright start to the new season.
However, there were always fears that the £50 million signing could pick up a fresh setback, given his heavy workload in all competitions in Timber’s absence.
Timber had been struggling with a nagging groin issue since the Champions League final, but he was available to replace White off the bench against Sunderland.
The Dutchman looked sharp in his 50-minute-plus appearance, but Arteta is likely to handle him with extra caution, given he has just returned to competitive action.
Hence, there is a good possibility that he may not start tonight. Arteta could field Martin Zubimendi as an emergency right-back with Declan Rice likely to be rested.
However, the manager could also go with a surprise decision to pick 17-year-old Marli Salmon in the position.
The young graduate was superb in pre-season and had one of his best games in central defence during the 1-1 draw against Como at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite the bright showing, Salmon has not made the matchday squads because of fierce competition, and tonight could be his first chance to make an impression this term.
Salmon can obviously play as a centre-back or right-back, and the teenager could be tasked with the latter of those roles. He could be replaced by Timber in the second half.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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