Ben White's dedication to Arsenal has been highlighted after he sustained another significant knee injury during the 2022-23 season. Signed for £50 million from Brighton in 2021, White played through multiple injuries, including a grade two hamstring tear while facing Newcastle in his first season at Arsenal. This persistence continued into the following year when he started 35 out of 38 Premier League matches due to teammate Jurrien Timber's ACL injury. Despite recent setbacks, both Arsenal and White have reaffirmed their commitment to each other, with Arteta viewing him as a crucial player despite his recurring physical challenges.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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.
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He → have → champions
The brace on his right knee summed up years of putting his body on the line for Arsenal.
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brace → sum → Arsenal
White was signed from Brighton as a centre-back for £50million in 2021.
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White → sign → 2021
His mentality, and unique tolerance for playing through pain, quickly became obvious to those at the club.
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mentality → play → club
During the 2021/22 season, he played with a grade two hamstring tear away at Newcastle.
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he → play → Newcastle
There is a quote on the wall of the treatment room at Arsenal's training ground, which reads: "Your best ability is availability.”
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ability → be → ground
White put that into practice.
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White → put → practice
In his first season at the club, he started 32 Premier League matches.
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he → start → matches
That number rose to 36 the following year as he was moved to right-back.
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he → rise → back
Jurrien Timber arrived from Ajax in the summer of 2023, a signing that looked set to ease the workload on White.
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that → arrive → 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.
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White → pick → league
It has been a vicious cycle, with one overused through necessity in the absence of the other to the detriment of their own fitness.
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one → overuse → 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.
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injury → come → Madrid
His connection on the right wing with Bukayo Saka, central to Arsenal's first title challenge in 2022/23, looked to be back.
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connection → look → 2022/23
White is known for having a particularly level head.
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White → know → head
He is not one to dwell too long on disappointments, or get carried away by successes.
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He → dwell → successes
This injury, though, was a hugely frustrating blow, and not just because he missed the finale of Arsenal's historic season.
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he → miss → season
It came with White back in the England picture, after returning under Thomas Tuchel during the previous international break.
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It → come → 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.
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he → pick → Cup
The online response to news of Ben White's injury in May had a different tone to usual among the Arsenal fans.
uncertain
response → have → fans
There was one theme that dominated, one message more common than all others: “Thank you.”
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that → be → 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.
uncertain
White → compile → 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.
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exit → remain → Arsenal
Mikel Arteta still viewed him as a key part of his plans.
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Arteta → view → plans
White is also a popular member of the squad, his deadpan attitude towards interviews hiding the more outgoing side of his personality.
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attitude → hide → personality
He is especially close to Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, throwing the latter's sunglasses into the crowd during the trophy parade.
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He → throw → parade
As for White, there was the feeling that any move would be a downgrade.
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move → be → White
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.
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club → work → desire
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.
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he → turn → Cup
White spent around a month of the summer in Portugal, training every day.
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White → spend → Portugal
Arsenal sent physios out to work with him on his recovery.
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Arsenal → send → recovery
He is known for doing gym work on his days off during the season and the intensity was ramped up over the summer.
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intensity → know → summer
White "trains like every day is his last," one club source said.
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source → train → ?
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.
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White → go → season
Arsenal still remained cautious.
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Arsenal → remain → ?
The decision was made not to include him in the behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons, as he continued to build his fitness.
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he → make → fitness
His first appearance of the summer was against Girona, when he featured for an hour.
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he → feature → hour
The real test came with the start of the competitive season and White hit the ground running.
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White → come → ground
The trio started the first six matches of the season together.
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trio → start → season
Against Napoli, when Arteta rotated his side, it was telling that he still stuck with those three on the right.
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he → rotate → right
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
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