Ben White's World Cup aspirations have suffered a major setback after Arsenal confirmed the England defender will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury sustained during Sunday's victory over West Ham.
White was forced off in the first half of Arsenal's 1-0 win at the London Stadium, leaving the pitch with his injured knee in a brace. The Premier League leaders announced on Tuesday that the 28-year-old has suffered a significant medial ligament injury and will not feature in their final three fixtures, including the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on 30 May.
"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," Arsenal said in a statement.
England recall and World Cup hopes
White was recalled to the England squad in March after a four-year absence by manager Thomas Tuchel, who will name his 26-man World Cup squad a week on Friday. The defender scored his first international goal in March's draw with Uruguay and started against Japan four days later. His injury now casts serious doubt on his participation in the tournament.
Impact on Arsenal's title chase
White's absence is a significant blow for manager Mikel Arteta, whose side are chasing their first league title in 22 years with matches against Burnley and Crystal Palace, followed by the Champions League final in Budapest. White had started the last five matches in place of Jurriën Timber, the Netherlands defender who has been sidelined since March 14 with a groin issue. Arteta recently suggested Timber may not play again this season.
Against West Ham, Arteta moved Declan Rice to right-back before substituting him for Cristhian Mosquera, a move he later admitted was a mistake. The manager also faces uncertainty over the fitness of midfielder Mikel Merino.
Security measures at Selhurst Park
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have warned supporters that they could face bans from purchasing season tickets or memberships next season if they attempt to sell their tickets to Arsenal fans for the final-day clash at Selhurst Park. Following scuffles in the home sections during Arsenal's win at West Ham, Palace will implement enhanced security measures, including disabling ticket sharing to prevent unauthorized access and touting.
