Arsenal have been dealt a major blow ahead of the UEFA Champions League final after defender Ben White was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a suspected medial collateral ligament injury.
The 28-year-old picked up the injury during Arsenal’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium. White was forced off during the first half following a collision with winger Crysencio Summerville and was later seen leaving the stadium with a brace on his right knee, immediately raising fears among Arsenal supporters.
Reports emerging on Monday confirmed that the defender is expected to miss the rest of the campaign, leaving manager Mikel Arteta with a significant defensive dilemma ahead of Arsenal’s biggest match of the season against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30.
The suspected injury involves the medial collateral ligament, commonly known as the MCL, located on the inner side of the knee. Recovery periods can vary depending on the severity of the damage, although initial expectations suggest White will not recover in time for either the final or this summer’s international commitments.
The timing could hardly be worse for both club and country. White had recently forced his way back into the England setup under new manager Thomas Tuchel after almost four years away from international football. His return in March had been viewed as one of the more remarkable comebacks within the national team setup, especially given his consistent performances for Arsenal throughout the season.
Arsenal defender Ben White is expected to miss the rest of the season with a right knee ligament injury.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 12, 2026
White, 28, was forced off in the first half of Arsenal’s Premier League victory over West Ham United on May 10. Mikel Arteta said after the match that “he doesn’t look good… pic.twitter.com/I9tHZpFluz
However, with the World Cup now just weeks away, White’s participation appears increasingly uncertain. England are expected to announce their squad within the coming days, but concerns over the defender’s fitness may ultimately force Tuchel to leave him out of the travelling party.
White had become an increasingly important figure for Arsenal during the closing stages of the campaign, starting each of the club’s last five matches, including both legs of the dramatic Champions League semi-final victory over Atlético Madrid.
Attention will now turn towards how Arteta reshapes his defence ahead of the final. Malta Sport shall be present for the Champions League Final with exclusive footage from Budapest on the 29th of May.
Summer signing Cristhian Mosquera is expected to step in, although replacing White’s composure, versatility, and experience on such a major occasion will be far from straightforward.
Arsenal remain in contention for European glory, but the loss of one of their most reliable defenders represents a crushing setback at the most decisive stage of the season.
