Arsenal defender Ben White is set to miss several months of action as he recovers from surgery, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed. The 27-year-old full-back featured in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea before the international break, playing the full 90 minutes in what was his seventh Premier League start of the season. However, during the two-week hiatus, White underwent a “minor surgical procedure” to address a knee issue, which Arsenal has now confirmed will sideline him for the foreseeable future.
Since joining the Gunners in 2021, White has been a mainstay in Arsenal’s defense, missing just seven Premier League games across his first three seasons. This campaign, he has already played in nine of Arsenal’s 11 league matches, underlining his importance to Arteta’s backline.
The injury comes as a further blow to Arsenal’s defensive unit, which has been hampered by fitness issues throughout the season. Players like Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori, and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all dealt with injuries at different points. However, Arteta has taken solace in the fact that some of his defenders are now returning to fitness, offering a glimmer of stability in a troubled area.
Saturday’s clash against Nottingham Forest will mark Arteta’s 250th game in charge of Arsenal, with the two sides level on points in the Premier League table after the Gunners endured a four-game winless streak. Reflecting on recent results during the international break, Arteta acknowledged areas for improvement but insisted the team’s performances have not been as poor as their return of just two points from four matches might suggest.
