Ben White has fought back from a series of fitness setbacks to prove his importance to Mikel Arteta, with the latest injury not expected to be a long-term one. 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.
White's journey from Brighton to Arsenal
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.
Injury struggles and recovery
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.
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.
This injury 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.
Summer recovery and return to form
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. "He 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. 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.
Impact and future prospects
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. 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."
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.
