Arsenal defender Ben White will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a significant medial ligament injury during Sunday’s 1-0 victory over West Ham. The 28-year-old, who departed London Stadium in a knee brace, is also expected to be unavailable for England’s World Cup campaign this summer.
The club confirmed in a statement that White has sustained a major medial ligament injury, ruling him out of the final two Premier League fixtures and the Champions League final on 30 May. “Our medical team are now managing Ben’s recovery and rehabilitation programme, with everyone fully focused on supporting the aim of Ben being ready for the start of our pre-season preparations,” the statement read.
White has made 30 appearances across all competitions this season, including starts in the past five games, though only nine of those have come in the Premier League. His absence arrives at a crucial moment for both club and country. Arsenal need wins against Burnley and Crystal Palace to secure their first league title in 22 years, while they also face Paris St-Germain in their first Champions League final in two decades.
The target of having White fit for pre-season means he is unlikely to be ready for the World Cup. England manager Thomas Tuchel will name his squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico on 22 May.
White had only just returned to the England setup after a three-year absence, featuring in March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan and scoring against Uruguay. The timing of the injury is particularly cruel given his recent form — he delivered an outstanding performance in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid and has built a strong partnership with Bukayo Saka on Arsenal’s right flank.
With Takehiro Tomiyasu also sidelined by a groin injury, manager Mikel Arteta initially deployed Declan Rice at right-back against West Ham before switching to Cristhian Mosquera. The 21-year-old Mosquera has shown promise, but starting in a Champions League final against PSG’s elite attack would be a major challenge for the young defender.
