Arsenal learn extent of Ben White injury as return timeline is revealed

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Evening Standard

·13 Mei 2026

Arsenal learn extent of Ben White injury as return timeline is revealed

Positive news for the Arsenal defender despite being ruled out for the remainder of the season

Arsenal defender Ben White will not require surgery on the knee injury that has ended his season.

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Arsenal confirmed on Tuesday that White had suffered “significant medial knee ligament injury" in the win over West Ham on Sunday.

The right-back was injured challenging Crysencio Summerville in the first-half and was unable to continue.

He left the London Stadium wearing a knee brace and he will play no further part in Arsenal's two remaining Premier League fixtures or the Champions League final.

That is a significant blow for Arsenal, particularly with Jurrien Timber still on the sidelines, but there has been some positive news for White.

Standard Sport understands that the 28-year-old will not need to have surgery on his knee.

He will instead undergo a managed rehabilitation process with Arsenal over the coming weeks.

It is hoped that White will return in time for pre-season, easing fears of an extended absence leading into the 2026-27 campaign.

Season over: Ben White

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That does mean that White is expected to miss the World Cup.

He returned to the England fold in March for the first time since 2022, when he left the tournament in Qatar for personal reasons.

White made it clear he did not want to be called up for the rest of Gareth Southgate's tenure but then made himself available once Thomas Tuchel took charge.

There were boos for White at Wembley against Uruguay and Japan but Tuchel spoke in support of the defender.

Tino Livramento is currently out with a thigh injury and faces a race to be fit in time for the World Cup, while Reece James has only just returned from a hamstring issue.

Those concerns raised the prospect of White earning a spot in England's 26-man squad this summer but that opportunity has now been taken away from him.