Arsenal: Mikel Arteta confirms fresh injury worries for Ben White and Mikel Merino ahead of PSG clash | OneFootball

Double setback for the Gunners

Ben White is not in the Arsenal matchday squad tonight

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

Sign up

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed Ben White and Mikel Merino were not fit to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The pair’s absence is a worry for the Gunners given they have the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

Merino and White were both involved in Arsenal’s 4-0 win at Ipswich, but Arteta has confirmed they picked up “issues” after.

Arsenal would be confident of coping with the absence of White because Jurrien Timber has excelled at right-back this season.

The loss of Merino would be a hammer blow, though, as he has excelled as a striker in recent months.

The Spaniard was one of Arsenal’s star performers in their quarter-final win over Real Madrid. He scored once and assisted twice over the two legs.