Arsenal defender Ben White is expected to be sidelined for around eight weeks after undergoing minor surgery to address a knee issue, PA news agency reports. The 27-year-old has had his workload carefully managed throughout the season, limiting him to 12 appearances.
White recently started Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Inter Milan and their Premier League fixture against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, completing the full 90 minutes in both matches. However, following medical consultation, it was decided that surgery was necessary to alleviate joint discomfort in his knee.
The timing of White’s absence compounds Arsenal’s injury struggles. Summer signing Riccardo Calafiori remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is also unavailable, further limiting defensive options for manager Mikel Arteta as his team competes on multiple fronts.
Arsenal’s upcoming schedule includes a return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest on November 23, followed by a Champions League away match at Sporting Lisbon.
White’s absence adds to a growing list of concerns for Arteta, as captain Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice have all recently withdrawn from international duty with fitness concerns.
Reflecting on Arsenal’s injury challenges, Arteta acknowledged the difficulties following the team’s draw with Chelsea. “What I’m praying for is that after the international break, we have the team fully physically equipped,” Arteta said.
“We’ve faced issues over these past eight weeks, not only with players unable to play, but also with those who can only play limited minutes. It’s been a real challenge.”
With the Gunners now slightly adrift in the title race, Arteta will be hoping for a swift return to fitness across his squad as they aim to regain momentum.