White's Arsenal Future in Doubt as Knee Injury Ends Campaign

Ben White's troublesome campaign has taken a turn for the worse after a knee injury during Sunday's 1-0 victory over West Ham has ruled him out for the remainder of the season—potentially his last appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

The defender's season has already been frustrating, with Jurrien Timber's presence keeping him on the fringes of Mikel Arteta's plans. Arsenal's medical team confirmed on Monday that White has suffered a significant medial knee ligament injury requiring extensive rehabilitation.

"Further to Sunday's match at West Ham United, subsequent assessments and specialist reviews have confirmed that Ben White has sustained a significant medial knee ligament injury, which will rule him out for the remainder of this season," an Arsenal statement read. "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."

Transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano indicated the injury could extend beyond club football, tweeting: "Ben White will be OUT of Champions League final and missing upcoming games for Arsenal until end of the season. Knee injury will keep White out and more tests will confirm if he can be in World Cup squad or not."

The timing proves particularly awkward given Arsenal's pursuit of a historic double—they sit just three wins away from claiming both the Premier League and Champions League. White's absence from that potential glory adds another layer to what could become a significant summer overhaul.

With the Gunners needing to shift assets to balance the books, White finds himself among several players linked with departures. Everton has been mooted as a potential destination, though former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown believes the defender's decision hinges on one crucial factor.

"It's a difficult one with Ben White," Brown told Football Insider. "If Arsenal win the Premier League title, as I believe they will, and the Champions League as well, why would he want to leave being a part of that squad? The only possible reason is if he thinks he's not going to get much playing time."

Brown suggests White's path forward depends entirely on securing assurances about his role. "He's been back in the side recently when Timber has been injured, but when he comes back, will he drop back down to being a rotation option again?" Brown explained. "That's something he will have to speak to Mikel Arteta about to seek some assurances, because Arsenal are going to need to have a big squad."

The scout reckons Everton would represent an attractive option should White decide his prospects at the Emirates are limited. "If he's going to be playing a bit-part role there and wants to move on, Everton would be a very good destination for him and he would fit in well," Brown added. "But whether he could move to Everton all depends on what's happening for him at Arsenal."