White out for season and set to miss World Cup

Arsenal defender Ben White will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury and is set to miss out on England’s World Cup campaign.

The 28-year-old picked up the injury in the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 win at West Ham on Sunday and was seen leaving London Stadium in a knee brace.

In a statement, the club said White has sustained a “significant medial ligament injury” which will rule him out of the last two Premier League games and the Champions League final on 30 May.

The statement 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.”

White has made 30 appearances in all competitions this season and has started the past five Arsenal games, though he has only started nine league games.

Wins against Burnley and Crystal Palace in the Gunners’ final two Premier League games will secure a first league title in 22 years, while they also face Paris St-Germain in their first Champions League final in 20 years.

Arsenal’s target of White being fit for pre-season means he is unlikely to be fit for the World Cup. Thomas Tuchel will name his squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico on 22 May.

The injury to White comes at a cruel time.

He had just returned to the England squad for the first time in more than three years in the recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March and scored in the draw against the former.

It will also be a personal blow to miss out on what could be a historic end to the season for the Gunners.

White put in an excellent performance in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid and his partnership with Bukayo Saka on Arsenal’s right-hand side has flourished.

Timber is still out with a groin injury and manager Mikel Arteta initially played Declan Rice at right-back against West Ham before moving Cristhian Mosquera into that position.

Mosquera has shown he has the potential to be an elite defender but at just 21 years old, it would be a big ask for him to start in a Champions League final against PSG’s elite attack.

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