The image of Arsenal defender Ben White strolling off the Selhurst Park pitch in May felt entirely fitting.
He had a Premier League winners medal around his neck, deserved reward for his contribution to the Gunners’ transformation from strugglers to contenders to Premier League champions.
The brace on his right knee summed up years of putting his body on the line for Arsenal. And then the sunglasses - well, why not?
White was signed from Brighton as a centre-back for £50million in 2021. His mentality, and unique tolerance for playing through pain, quickly became obvious to those at the club. During the 2021/22 season, he played with a grade two hamstring tear away at Newcastle.
There is a quote on the wall of the treatment room at Arsenal's training ground, which reads: "Your best ability is availability.”
White put that into practice. In his first season at the club, he started 32 Premier League matches. That number rose to 36 the following year as he was moved to right-back.
Jurrien Timber arrived from Ajax in the summer of 2023, a signing that looked set to ease the workload on White. The Dutchman, though, picked up an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on his debut and White was required to start 35 out of 38 games in the league.
In the three seasons they have both been at Arsenal, White and Timber have been fit at the same time all too rarely. It has been a vicious cycle, with one overused through necessity in the absence of the other to the detriment of their own fitness.
White's medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury against West Ham at the end of last season came a few days after a superb performance in the Champions League semi-final second-leg win over Atletico Madrid.
That was his best display of the campaign. His connection on the right wing with Bukayo Saka, central to Arsenal's first title challenge in 2022/23, looked to be back.
White is known for having a particularly level head. He is not one to dwell too long on disappointments, or get carried away by successes.
This injury, though, was a hugely frustrating blow, and not just because he missed the finale of Arsenal's historic season.
It came with White back in the England picture, after returning under Thomas Tuchel during the previous international break.
Had he not picked up that injury in the final weeks of the season, he would have been in England's squad at the World Cup.
The online response to news of Ben White's injury in May had a different tone to usual among the Arsenal fans. There was one theme that dominated, one message more common than all others: “Thank you.”
Compilations were compiled and messages of gratitude posted, the sense being that White might have put his body on the line for Arsenal for the final time.
White clearly remains as committed to Arsenal as ever, despite the setbacks he faces
However, for all there was external speculation over his future, a summer exit was not considered by either Arsenal or White. Mikel Arteta still viewed him as a key part of his plans.
White is also a popular member of the squad, his deadpan attitude towards interviews hiding the more outgoing side of his personality.
He is especially close to Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, throwing the latter's sunglasses into the crowd during the trophy parade.
As for White, there was the feeling that any move would be a downgrade. Having worked so hard to help Arsenal get back to the domestic summit, he had no desire to leave now the club were finally there.
Odegaard fuming at Ben White for throwing his sunglasses into the crowd is the highlight of the day imo pic.twitter.com/GQVl7v1n7H
— Andy Ha (@AndyHa_) May 31, 2026
Instead, his focus turned to getting himself fit for the start of pre-season, knowing the advantage he would have over those returning late after the World Cup.
White spent around a month of the summer in Portugal, training every day. Arsenal sent physios out to work with him on his recovery.
He is known for doing gym work on his days off during the season and the intensity was ramped up over the summer.
White "trains like every day is his last," one club source said. "He's a freak."
With his recovery going smoothly, White was able to join up with members of the Arsenal squad in Marbella for an unofficial camp the week before the start of pre-season.
Arsenal still remained cautious. The decision was made not to include him in the behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons, as he continued to build his fitness.
His first appearance of the summer was against Girona, when he featured for an hour. That was an important milestone in his comeback.
The real test came with the start of the competitive season and White hit the ground running. His partnership with Odegaard and in particular Saka on the right wing is such a weapon for Arsenal.
The trio started the first six matches of the season together. Against Napoli, when Arteta rotated his side, it was telling that he still stuck with those three on the right.
In the Community Shield, when Arsenal dismantled Manchester City, White was exceptional at both ends of the pitch. He led the way for Arsenal for both defensive contributions and passes into the final third.
He has looked close to his best, particularly in attack, and the right wing was a key factor in Arsenal winning their first four top-flight matches and that Champions League clash in Naples.
The groin injury he picked up against Sunderland came at another frustrating time. Again, had he stayed fit, he would have been in the current England squad for Nations League matches against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia.
"He had a fantastic start to the season and was back to his very best on the side as a pair with Bukayo Saka which could be very valuable for us to have two players on the side," Tuchel said.
"It is unfortunately a little bit of a story with Ben that in the decisive moments or in the moments where we do the call-ups he is not available."
That injury is not believed to be a long-term one. It was not initially ruled out that he could be in the squad against Brighton, though it was accepted ultimately that would be too big a gamble in risking a more serious injury.
Scans suggested a timeline of around three weeks for a full recovery and White is expected to be available for Arsenal's first match back after the international break against Leeds.
If Timber comes through the next fortnight unscathed, after joining up with the Netherlands, Arteta might finally have his two right-backs fit at the same time.
It should not be assumed that Timber will automatically get the nod.
White offers more to Arsenal's attack on the right wing. For all Timber brings different strengths defensively, the timing of White's overlapping runs and his combinations with Saka and Odegaard cannot be replicated.
The work White put in over the summer to be ready to play his part in Arsenal's strong start to the season emphasised he remains as committed as ever, regardless of the setbacks he faces.
The aim is to be walking off the pitch in May with another Premier League medal in his ownership. Ideally this time without the knee brace. Probably still with the sunglasses.
