Why Ben White's injury is more than just a blow to Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions

Arsenal's injury-plagued season has recently gotten worse as the Gunners have lost yet another important player to a significant injury. English defender Ben White has undergone surgery to address joint discomfort and is set to absent for the coming games.

The versatile defender, who has been playing through pain this season, has finally decided to undergo knee surgery to resolve his joint issues. He is expected to be out for several weeks. Though Ben White isn’t ranked among the top five most important players in Mikel Arteta’s squad, his absence will still be felt. His time away from the field could negatively affect the team for many reasons.

The former Brighton defender is the first-choice right-back for Mikel Arteta. No coach would want to lose their first choice for any position, even if other options are available. After all, he is the first choice for a reason. In Arsenal’s case, however, the alternative options are also dealing with injuries.

Takehiro Tomiyasu has played only seven minutes of football this season. He started the season injured and was quickly sidelined again after just seven minutes of action against Southampton. Jurrien Timber, whom Arteta prefers to use on the left, was actually a right-back and centre-back at Ajax. While he can fill in at right-back, the Dutch defender has also been battling injury this season, having missed several months of football last season.

Another reason Arsenal will miss White dearly is his chemistry with Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard on the right. Mikel Arteta has consistently highlighted the importance of this trio's connection in his system.

“There is so much chemistry in that right unit… That relationship has been there for a long time, and I believe at the moment it’s better just to touch on,” the coach said after Arsenal’s pre-season game against Manchester United when asked why he started Timber in central defence instead of at right-back.

Ødegaard’s injury affected this triangle, and now that the captain has returned to full fitness, White is out. White’s versatility also means he is capable of playing as a central defender. He steps up in central defence when the regular choices are unavailable. His absence will leave Arteta without an insurance cover at centre-back, at a time when Ricardo Calafiori is also injured.

The packed December fixture period looms, and every coach would want as many players fit as possible to aid rotation. Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta, he will have to make do without White.