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• Arsenal handed another injury blow as White ruled out for 'months'

  Mikel Arteta confirmed that Arsenal defender Ben White is facing "months" on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury. 

  White had been dealing with several issues all season and has missed five games in all competitions for the Gunners already this term. 

  After struggling through until the November international break, the decision was taken for him to undergo surgery in order to finally address the ongoing problems.

  It serves as a bitter blow for Arteta, with only Thomas Parety (13) making more interceptions than White (11) for Arsenal in the Premier League this campaign. 

  Though Arteta confirmed that the surgery was successful, White is set for a lengthy spell out of the team. 

  "It has been different kinds of struggles. It has never been the same thing, but we had to make a decision. He has not improved over the last few weeks, unfortunately," said Arteta.

  "We know that Ben is going to push every boundary, but it got to the point where we have to protect the player and we decided to do the surgery.

  "He agreed with that and it is going to keep him out for a few months."

  Asked for a specific time frame, Arteta added: "We have to see how he reacts post-surgery. I don't expect it to be half a year, but I cannot tell you exactly."

  It offers a concern for Arteta in the full-back area, with the Spaniard also revealing on Friday that Takehiro Tomiyasu is "going to be out as well for a bit".

  There was, however, some positive injury news for the Gunners ahead of welcoming Nottingham Forest to the Emirates on Saturday. 

  After not featuring for England during the international break, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are expected to be fit to feature against Nuno Espirito Santo's side. 

  Leandro Trossard will also be available for Arteta despite picking up a hamstring injury during the international break with Belgium.

  Defender Riccardo Calafiori is also in contention for Saturday's game after a month out with a knee problem. 

• Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan

  Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.

  Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.

  "I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.

  "Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."

  Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.

  Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.

  "I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.

  "This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."

  Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.

  "It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.

  "We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."

  Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.

• 'Super simple' – Lille president rules out January exit for Jonathan David

  Lille president Olivier Letang has categorically ruled out a January exit for forward Jonathan David amid links with a number of European clubs.

  David is out of contract at the end of the season and has been touted as a target for the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona.

  Speaking this week, the Canada international named Barcelona as his "dream" club but suggested he would prefer not to leave Lille mid-season.

  And in an interview with After Foot RMC, Letang confirmed no bids have yet been tabled ahead of the January window.

  "We are not going to sell him in January, and we have not received any offer for him," he said.

  "Jonathan's situation is super simple. We are very happy to have him with us. 

  "Last season he had one more year left on his contract. We were trying to qualify for the Champions League. 

  "You have a guy who scores 20 to 25 goals a season. We had no obligation to sell him."

  David is into his fifth season with Lille and has scored 97 goals in 202 games for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions while assisting a further 18.

  Seven of those goals have arrived in 11 appearances this term, including in Champions League games against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.

  The 24-year-old's best league season with Lille saw him score 24 goals in 2022-23, while he has netted 19, 15 and 13 in the other full campaigns.

  Lille chief Letang reiterated that David has been offered a new deal to stay on at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but selling him has never been an option.

  "He is a player who scores between 20 and 25 goals and helps us qualify for the Champions League," he said. 

  "Plus, Jonathan loves Lille, which is his club. Our position was very clear from the beginning – we think of the athlete. 

  "Obviously, he already has an offer that is in his hands, the ball is in his court."