Arteta upbeat on Ben White and Mosquera as Brighton test looms

Arsenal head into the weekend with tails up and injury news trending the right way. Mikel Arteta has provided a timely update ahead of the Brighton clash, hinting that Ben White is fine to feature and Cristhian Mosquera could be back in the mix — just what the doctor ordered before the break.

The backdrop: momentum meets a real test

The Gunners are purring after a 2-0 win over Sunderland to keep their perfect league start intact, followed by a heavily rotated side swatting aside Ipswich Town 4-2 in the EFL Cup. Brighton won’t roll over, though — the Seagulls arrive buzzing after a stirring 3-2 comeback at Old Trafford in midweek. This is a proper barometer game before the extended international pause.

Fitness latest from Arteta

There’s no green light yet for William Saliba. The France centre-half, nursing a back issue picked up around the World Cup, still hasn’t returned to full training and won’t feature this weekend — he’s set to miss international duty under Zinedine Zidane as well, with a longer horizon in mind.

The good news: White is expected to be available after his recent groin issue, Mosquera is pushing to be involved after a thigh complaint, while Saliba remains out of contention. Arteta will run one more session before making final calls, but the mood is positive.

Selection picture at the back

White’s return changes the tone entirely. He’s been a mainstay at right-back, dovetailing brilliantly with Bukayo Saka — that combination gives Arsenal thrust going forward and control without the ball. With Jurrien Timber still building back towards full sharpness, having a natural right-back fit for a challenge like Brighton is massive.

It also keeps the middle settled: Ezri Konsa and Gabriel have forged a steady partnership, and White’s presence allows Arteta to preserve that balance. Piero Hincapie and Timber, who both missed the midweek cup tie, are expected to be available again, albeit they may be eased in from the bench.

Brighton’s threat and Arsenal’s response

Brighton arrive with their tails up, and they’ll press, rotate, and ask questions between the lines. Arsenal’s answer must be composure and tempo — use White and Saka down the right to pin the Seagulls’ full-back and rely on that Konsa–Gabriel axis to handle transitions. If the Gunners keep their structure, their quality should tell.

Return timelines to watch

Club guidance points to the following targets: Saliba is working towards a late-November return (21/11/2026 pencilled), while Mosquera, White and Hincapie have been tracking for this weekend (19/09/2026). As ever, final involvement hinges on how they come through the last training session.

Transfer footnote

A summer subplot worth remembering: Arsenal were strongly linked with Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi after an eye-catching debut Premier League campaign. One to file away for future windows if the market turns.

Focusing on the here and now, a fit-again White is the headline boost. If he starts, Saka gets his trusted runner, Arsenal get their rhythm, and Arteta gets his preferred balance. That could be the edge in what promises to be a razor-tight contest.

Fancy a flutter on the weekend’s action? Check the latest odds from the UK’s best betting sites before kick-off.