Arsenal will be without Ben White for a number of weeks after he underwent minor surgery on a persistent joint issue.
Ben White Injury Requires Minor Procedure
Ben White sat out Arsenal’s EFL Cup tie against Bolton and featured for just 19 minutes against Newcastle, sparking rumours over his fitness. Despite an expected absence, he has played in two taxing away trips to Inter Milan and Chelsea, amid a shortage of defensive options.
It is no secret the Arsenal right-back has been playing through pain for a number of months. Back in September, White featured in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City despite a known groin problem, prompting a four-game lay-off shortly after.
It is also not the first time White has played through injury problems, with his threshold for pain apparently leaving medical staff at London Colney shocked.
With the Premier League disbanding for the international break, White and the medical deemed it best to operate on a persistent joint problem in his knee, in the hopes of recovering not long after club football returns.
White is not expected to be out for long, with reports suggesting he could be available as soon as the Gunners’ next Premier League test against Nottingham Forest.
Ben White featured for an astonishing 4,089 minutes last season, which prompted suspicions over how long he could continue playing through obvious mobility issues.
This long-awaited surgery will hopefully provide White with a springboard to launch his season, after Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori have been preferred in the full-back positions when fit.
Fellow full-back Calafiori could also be declared ready for that fixture in a double defensive injury boost for Mikel Arteta.
Both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka have withdrawn from their respective international squads, but both are also expected to return to action when club football reconvenes.
