Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta refused to give much away when asked about the possibility of a new contract for Ben White.
The England international's representatives are believed to be in discussions with the Gunners over a new deal, with his current terms due to expire in the summer of 2026.
White has flourished as a right-back since his positional change in 2022, and the 26-year-old has affirmed that he would be willing to sign a renewal at the Emirates Stadium.
Talks between the two camps are said to be heading in the right direction, as Arsenal seek to tie down another fundamental player following Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes's renewals.
When asked about contract talks with White in Friday's press conference, Arteta was as tight-lipped as ever but waxed lyrical about the defender's "huge personality", saying: "We are always trying to keep the squad in a healthy position in any way, and the club and Edu especially are working on that.
"I think he's progressed in the right way in the last few years. He had a little bit of a difficult start, which is normal because it was a big jump with different expectations. He started to play as well in certain different positions, but I think he's shown a lot of determination and courage to overcome that.
"I think he has a big personality, I think he copes with pressure really well, he has a lot of quality, he gives us different positions and he's been a key player for us.
"He's a really good character in his own way and the way he is, the way he presents himself, but he loves football. The way he trains every day, the way he applies himself is top and we need players like him."
White - who scored an own goal in Wednesday's 3-1 EFL Cup fourth-round defeat to West Ham United - will be expected to start in Saturday's Premier League clash with Newcastle United at St James' Park, where the Gunners will seek to stretch their 2023-24 top-flight unbeaten run to 11 matches.
All of Jurrien Timber (ACL), Thomas Partey (muscle) and Gabriel Jesus (hamstring) will miss out, though, while Emile Smith Rowe picked up a fresh knee injury before the midweek defeat to the Hammers.
The 23-year-old made his first Premier League start since May 2022 in last weekend's 5-0 beating of Sheffield United but now faces weeks on the sidelines, which Arteta admitted was a "big blow".
"Nothing has changed, as I said I think he will be out for weeks. How many will determine in relation to how he progresses in the first few weeks especially," the Spaniard added.
"It's a big blow because he was getting some momentum and some minutes and we'd started to get the Emile that we needed, but unfortunately he's going to be out again."
Meanwhile, Arteta refused to give any assurances that Jesus would return after the next international break, adding: "I cannot guarantee that. We are trying to get his recovery done as quickly as possible. I said that it will be weeks, but it's very difficult to put a timeframe on it right now."
Arsenal occupy second place in the Premier League table heading into the clash at St James' Park, where a win could temporarily see them overtake Tottenham Hotspur into top spot before the Lilywhites face Chelsea on Monday. body check tags ::
