Ben White has been ruled out of for the rest of Arsenal’s season – and is also likely to miss the World Cup.
The defender has suffered a suspected medial collateral ligament damage in his right knee, which will see White miss the north London club’s crunch Premier League run-in and the Champions League final on May 30.
The 28-year-old is also anticipated to not be available for the World Cup with England in a nightmare end to his campaign.
White was forced off in the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday. Mikel Arteta said after the match that ‘he doesn’t look good at all’.
It leaves the Gunners with a right back problem ahead of a history-defining few weeks in May. Jurrien Timber has also been injured.
White was forced off in the first half at the London Stadium but his injury drew unusual comments from co-commentator Gary Neville on Sky Sports, who said he had ‘hurt himself’ in a challenge.
‘Ben White just hangs his leg there. It’s poor,’ Neville said. ‘He’s got to be stronger than that. He’s hurt himself there.
Ben White is treated by Arsenal’s medical staff after going down injured against West Ham
‘That’s easily prevented if you go in strong and with a real sturdy block. He’s hung his leg out in pretty weak fashion, you’re asking for trouble.’
White has made 30 appearances in all competitions this season, but has started just nine times in the league. Four of those have come in the Gunners’ last five league matches, in the absence of the injured Jurrien Timber.
The last 18 months of White’s career have been plagued by injury. He missed three months of the 2024-25 campaign following knee surgery, before a series of short-term absences this term.
Arsenal face Burnley on May 18, before visiting Crystal Palace on May 24 on the final day as the club bids to end its 22-year title wait.
They then face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30.
Gary Neville had pinned blame for the injury on White himself and his ‘pretty weak’ challenge
Neville later added: ‘Ben White will regret that because that could see him out of the World Cup.
‘Ben White will regret that because that could see him out of the World Cup.
‘We don’t know, we haven’t got the diagnosis yet, but they can be four to six-week injuries which would obviously be a big problem for Ben White in terms of the World Cup and the Champions League final.
‘Let’s hope it’s not that bad but that type of injury comes from that challenge.’
