Arsenal have lost Ben White to injury leaving Mikel Arteta with a nightmare scenario at right-back with the title race and Champions League final to come
Ben White was forced off with injury for Arsenal during their win over West Ham United(Image: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has a nightmare scenario playing out ahead of both the Premier League run-in and the UEFA Champions League final. The Gunners took a giant stride toward the title with their win at West Ham United, but suffered along the way to achieve it.
Ben White was replaced during the game with a suspected knee injury. Arteta was asked after the game about it but could only provide an update that will bring serious concern to supporters.
“We don’t know, but he doesn’t look good at all,” Arteta said. “So he needs some further testing tomorrow.”
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Losing White would be such a blow, firstly due to how good the form of the right-back has been. His revival alongside Bukayo Saka has seen a serious uplift for the right flank.
However, secondly and perhaps more damaging, Jurrien Timber remains injured. Missing since the win over Everton, the groin injury suffered in that game has caused major problems for the full-back.
When asked ahead of the weekend when he would be expected back and whether he would do so before the end of the season, Arteta said: “I don’t know.
“There’s still a fair bit to do so everything has to be so smooth and quick if they want to have a chance to play any minutes.”
Asked if the situation is therefore proving more challenging than expected, the Arsenal manager admitted that this was indeed the case.
“Yes, and that’s been probably the most difficult thing to manage, with the player, with myself as well,” he said. “Because we didn’t expect it to take so long, and at the moment, he’s not fit to play.”
Arteta initially brought Declan Rice into the role after substituting Martin Zubimendi. But this surrendered the midfield control that the club had established at the start of the game.
Despite injury being the cause for Riccardo Calafiori’s substitution at half-time, it was a necessary one as it allowed Cristhian Mosquera to come on at right-back and play well. For now, the Spaniard looks the most viable option in the role and will be expected to play against Burnley next week.
The timeline for Timber is such that Mosquera could now be prepped for the last three matches to start. Having signed for a bargain fee in the summer around £15million, the Spaniard has been fantastic and impressed despite being mainly unknown before the season started.
He has since earned a senior call-up to the Spain squad and will be in Luis de la Fuente’s mind for the World Cup. His versatility at centre-half (both sides) and right-back is clearly an asset for club and country.
But up against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the Champions League final is a prospect many will fear. Not to mention the uncertainty it raises for the final games of the Premier League title race.
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