Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that defender Ben White faces an injury setback after limping off early in Saturday’s 2–1 Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta Updates on Ben White Injury After Wolves Clash
The news is a fresh concern for the Gunners, who already have several defensive issues to manage.
White was named in the starting lineup for only the fourth match in succession following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
However, his return was cut short in the 31st minute when he pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury while chasing back during a Wolves counterattack.
The England international signalled he could not continue and was replaced by youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.
While Arsenal managed to secure all three points thanks to two own goals from Wolves, the mood after the game was tempered by the serious nature of White’s problem.
Asked about the injury in his post-match press conference, Arteta admitted the initial signs were worrying.
“It looks like a hamstring,” the Spaniard said, adding that the club will know more once scans have been completed in the coming days.
Arteta explained that managing White’s game time had been challenging.
Having recovered from a previous knee issue, White had only recently begun to build momentum, but the demands of Arsenal’s defensive situation forced him into more minutes than expected.
“We didn’t have any other solution,” Arteta said in post match conference, referring to the squad’s stretched defensive options.
The injury compounds a growing list of fitness concerns for Arsenal. Key defenders such as Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera are already sidelined, limiting Arteta’s ability to rotate at the back.
The boss even admitted risking William Saliba for the full 90 minutes during the Wolves game because of the lack of alternatives.
With White’s fitness now uncertain, Jurrien Timber is expected to continue at right-back for Arsenal’s upcoming trip to Everton, unless new scans suggest otherwise.
The Gunners will also look for some relief as Riccardo Calafiori returns from suspension next weekend
