Ben White has provided an update on his fitness as the summer preparations for the new Arsenal season commence
Ben White has broken his silence and posted an encouraging update on his status after suffering a considerable knee injury against West Ham which cost him a chance to play in the UEFA Champions League final and a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad.
White has been persistently hampered by injury problems and the right-back role has become a problem for Arsenal with Jurrien Timber equally suffering serious issues. The Netherlands international was forced himself to leave the Oranje squad before the first game of the tournament.
For White, it came as a real blow having stepped up in the Dutchman’s absence. Speaking in the aftermath of the vital title-defining win over West Ham, Mikel Arteta was not optimistic at the time.
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“We don’t know but it doesn’t look good at all,” Arteta said. “He needs some further testing tomorrow, probably, and then we will know.”
Fans had to wait until a week later for Arteta to provide the news no one wanted to hear. Confirming it would be many weeks and therefore missing the final and summer tournament.
“We have to wait and see. It looks like a long-term injury,” he said. “At the moment, the focus is can we have him back and be available for Arsenal. That’s not going to happen in many, many weeks.”
It left many puzzled in terms of an accurate timeline, especially when it emerged that surgery would not be necessary. However, having posted photos to his Instagram page of him running in preparation for the summer, it has offered some relief.
It is an intriguing summer for White with suggestions that a transfer is a possible option. Arsenal are understood by football.london to be looking at full-backs during the window, with Sporting CP’s Ivan Fresneda appreciated by the club among others.
This update, therefore, not only signals to Arsenal that he is on the mend, but could perhaps encourage potential suitors to his status also. The full-back will be expected back at Arsenal in mid-July for pre-season, which will provide the first chance to see whether he is involved in any sessions.
Arteta is expected to speak to the press for the first time during pre-season. The first opportunity is thought to be potentially after their first pre-season friendly in Girona on August 1.
