Injury chaos hits Arsenal as key players set to miss Everton trip

The Gunners extended their lead at the top of the table with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wolves, but it came at a cost as defender Ben White pulled up with a hamstring problem and had to be substituted.

Arteta admitted after the match that White's injury "is bad news" and that the club will need "tomorrow or the day after" to assess the full extent of the damage.

White had just been enjoying a consistent run in the side before being forced off, and it now remains unclear how long he will be unavailable during the packed Christmas schedule.

Brazilian centre-back Gabriel has also missed recent matches after picking up a thigh injury on international duty, with Arsenal's medical team conducting further tests to determine his recovery timeline. 

Latest reports suggest he could be sidelined into January, though there is hope of a return before the busy period peaks.

Midfielder-forward Kai Havertz's long rehabilitation from a knee injury suffered in August is still ongoing. Arteta has described the situation as "matter of weeks," with the German involved in training but still not ready for competitive action.

His return, likely in late December or early January, is seen as crucial for boosting Arsenal's attacking depth.

Young defender Cristhian Mosquera is out until after the New Year with an ankle injury, while teenager Max Dowman looks set for a spell on the sidelines until February with ankle ligament damage sustained in an Under-21 match.

Arteta's squad is stretched at a key stage of the season, but returning players like Riccardo Calafiori, back from suspension, offer some relief ahead of the Everton trip.

Arsenal will hope to manage their resources carefully across Premier League and Champions League commitments as they aim to stay firmly in the title hunt despite the fitness setbacks.

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