Mikel Arteta's side will be without summer signing Kai Havertz for the game against West Ham due to the German international accumulating five yellow cards in the league this term. Meanwhile, Ben White has accrued four bookings in the league so far this season, meaning a caution tomorrow would see him suspended for Sunday's away game against Fulham.
But if White avoids a yellow against the Hammers, he will no longer be a suspension risk, with the bar for yellows resetting at the midway point of the season. Instead, players who accumulate 10 yellows in league matches up to and including their team's 32nd fixture will serve a two-match ban in the competition.
The England international will be hoping he can avoid his name being written in the referee's book tomorrow, especially when you consider that versatile defenders Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both out injured at this moment in time. Timber sustained an ACL injury back in August, something that will likely rule him out for the majority of the 2023/24 campaign.
Meanwhile, Tomiyasu is out with a calf issue that he sustained during a 2-1 victory over Wolves. Back on December 6, football.london reported that the Japan international faces four to six weeks on the sidelines.
"We had a scan and it’s not good news," Arteta said. "He’s got an injury in his calf and he’s going to be out for a while I think."
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