Ben White came off injured in the first half of Arsenal's win over West Ham on Sunday and has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a medial ligament injury, the club confirmed.
Arsenal said the injury will not require surgery and added: "Our medical team are now managing Ben's recovery and rehabilitation programme, with everyone fully focused on supporting the aim of Ben being ready for the start of our pre-season preparations." The club also said no timescale has been given for his return.
The timing of the injury sharpens its impact. White will miss Arsenal's Premier League matches against Burnley on Monday and Crystal Palace on May 24, and he will not be available for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30.
Those absences cut at a crucial moment. Arsenal are chasing their first Premier League title in 22 years and are also seeking a first Champions League trophy, and Jurrien Timber has not played since the 2-0 win over Everton on March 14, leaving the squad short of experienced options at right-back.
Clubs and national teams are watching too. Thomas Tuchel brought White back into the England fold in March, and Tuchel is due to select his tournament squad on Friday May 22 — a decision now complicated by White being understood to be unlikely to be fit for the World Cup.
With the two regular right-backs unavailable, Arsenal have already been relying on teenagers and makeshift solutions. Cristhian Mosquera has played 430 minutes at right-back across the Premier League and Champions League this season and started there in the defeat to Manchester City in April. At West Ham on Sunday, Declan Rice was used at right-back for 20 minutes as Arsenal reshuffled during the match.
That improvisation has attracted outside comment. Paul Scholes said of Rice: "He played there loads because United had Bryan Robson and Paul Ince. Roy played there loads and was brilliant. Declan Rice looks like he would suit playing at right-back to me. He can play there. He’s not a big creator anyway." Nicky Butt added historical perspective: "Roy Keane played right-back for two-thirds of a season." Those remarks underline the makeshift nature of Arsenal's options and suggest pundits see midfield-to-defence switches as a workable, if imperfect, stopgap.
The club's decision-making over personnel is further affected by transfer movement. Arsenal confirmed Jakub Kiwior's move to Porto has become permanent after Porto's Liga Portugal title win last weekend, saying: "Jakub Kiwior's move to Porto has now become permanent following the Dragaos' Liga Portugal title triumph last weekend." Porto activated the option to sign Kiwior on a four-year contract in a deal that could rise from £14 million to £19 million.
Kiwior's departure — after a season-long loan in Portugal — removes one potential channel for cover at the back this summer and makes Arsenal's current shortfall at right-back more pressing as they approach three decisive fixtures in nine days and the squad selection deadline for international tournaments.
Arsenal now face a simple, consequential choice: rely on Mosquera and tactical tweaks that push midfielders like Rice across, or pursue short-term reinforcements in the transfer window once it opens. The club has said the medical team aim to have White ready for pre-season, but with no recovery timetable and Tuchel set to name his squad on May 22, the next week will determine whether England and Arsenal must finalise plans without their regular right-back.
