A grim diagnosis has emerged for Arsenal defender Ben White, sidelining him until the new year with a significant hamstring injury. The injury occurred during Saturday’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Wolves, forcing his early substitution in the 31st minute.
The match itself was a tense affair, with Arsenal narrowly escaping defeat against the Premier League’s bottom-placed team. A late own goal ultimately secured the win, but the victory was overshadowed by White’s sudden departure from the pitch.
Initial assessments were uncertain, with manager Mikel Arteta expressing concern but awaiting scan results. Those results, revealed on Sunday, confirmed the extent of the damage – a setback that will keep White out of action for at least a month.
This injury is particularly frustrating for White, who has already faced periods on the periphery this season. He’d been vying for position at right-back, finding himself behind Jurrien Timber in the pecking order.
While recent injuries within the squad had opened opportunities for White to reclaim a starting role, those chances are now postponed. Arteta is already navigating a growing injury list, particularly within the defensive line.
The return of William Saliba against Wolves provided a boost, but Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera remain unavailable. Fortunately, Riccardo Calafiori has recovered from his own injury and is back in contention.
Saturday’s defensive setup saw Timber partnering Saliba at center-back, with Piero Hincapie filling in at left-back during Calafiori’s suspension. The team is clearly feeling the strain of multiple absences.
Further compounding Arteta’s concerns, Kai Havertz is also currently sidelined, though a return before the month’s end is anticipated. Youngster Max Dowman faces a longer recovery period with an ankle injury.
Arsenal will have a brief respite from action midweek, with their next fixture scheduled for Saturday evening against Everton. A challenging run of games follows, including a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace and Premier League clashes against Brighton and Aston Villa during the holiday period.
