Ben White injury update: Return date and surgery status | OneFootball

Arsenal are reportedly hopeful White will be ready for pre-season, although any World Cup involvement now appears out of reach.

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Ben White will miss the rest of the season with the knee injury he suffered against West Ham, but there is at least some (relative) encouragement over the severity of the problem.

Earlier this week, Arsenal confirmed that White would play no further part this campaign.

The defender was injured in a first-half challenge with Crysencio Summerville, with the club later confirming that he had suffered “a significant medial knee ligament injury” and would miss the remaining three games of the season, including the Champions League final on 30 May in Budapest.

Given the way the injury was described, there was understandable concern that the 28-year-old might require surgery, but that does not appear to be the case.

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His injury is, however, still a damaging blow at a crucial point in Arsenal’s season, especially with fellow right-back Jurrien Timber struggling to get back to full fitness due to his groin injury.

Asked about White at his pre-Burnley press conference, Mikel Arteta said, “It looks like a long term injury. At the moment the focus is when can we have him back, that is not going to happen in many many weeks.”

However, even if White were to be called up by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup, which already appeared unlikely before his latest injury, he would not be fit to take part.

Arsenal are reportedly hopeful that White will be fit in time for pre-season.