Arsenal defender Ben White has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a significant medial knee ligament injury in Sunday’s 1-0 win over West Ham United. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
White, 28, went off in the first half and was replaced in the 28th minute after the injury at the London Stadium. Arsenal said subsequent assessments and specialist reviews confirmed the problem and that its medical team is now managing his recovery and rehabilitation programme. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
The England defender will miss Arsenal’s final 2 Premier League matches and the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30. Arsenal added that the aim is to have him ready for pre-season preparations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
White’s setback leaves Mikel Arteta short at right-back, with Jurrien Timber also sidelined. Arsenal are 5 points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League, with 2 league games left. [1, 3, 5, 6]
There is also uncertainty over White’s England prospects before the World Cup, which starts on June 11. Some reports say he is likely or set to miss the tournament, while one report said it was unclear whether he would recover in time. Thomas Tuchel is due to name his England squad on May 22. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
White had returned to England duty in March after more than 3 years away, scoring in a 1-1 friendly draw with Uruguay before also playing against Japan. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
