Ben White Injury Ends Arsenal Season And World Cup Campaign

Arsenal have announced that defender Ben White will miss the rest of the Premier League title run-in, plus the Champions League final, after suffering a serious knee problem in the 1-0 win over West Ham, and the setback also ends White’s hopes of going to the World Cup with England.

The 28-year-old, who has featured 30 times for Arsenal in all competitions during the 2025-26 season, went off in the 28th minute at London Stadium, was replaced by Martin Zubimendi, and later left the ground wearing a knee brace following the narrow away victory.

Arsenal confirmed that scans showed a significant medial ligament injury in White’s knee, ruling White out of the final two Premier League fixtures and the Champions League showpiece, while the club’s medical update also explained that longer-term planning is already under way to manage recovery and target White’s return for pre-season work.

The club statement read: "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," and this guidance sets a clear target as Arsenal consider both short-term cover and long-term planning.

Without White, Mikel Arteta must again adjust the right side of defence, having initially moved Declan Rice to right-back against West Ham before introducing Cristhian Mosquera at half-time, while Jurrien Timber remains unavailable, which increases the likelihood that Mosquera will continue in that role during a potentially decisive conclusion to Arsenal’s campaign.

White’s injury also affects England, as White had recently returned to the national team under Thomas Tuchel and made a first appearance since 2022 in the March friendly against Uruguay at Wembley, scoring England’s goal in a 1-1 draw but conceding the stoppage-time penalty that brought Uruguay level.

For Arsenal, White’s absence removes a consistent starter at a crucial stage of the season, forces Arteta to rely on alternative options in defence, and ends a year in which White had re-established a place for both club and country before this significant setback.