Arsenal Injury News: Ben White back in the fold as Jurrien Timber plays the waiting game at London Colney
Arsenal Injury News: Arsenal returned to pre-season duty this week, and the medical room at London Colney is finally starting to clear out. Top of the agenda for Mikel Arteta is the state of his backline. On that front, the news is a mixed bag, though leaning heavily toward the positive side. Ben White is back. Fully back, by the looks of it.
The 28-year-old defender had a miserable end to last term after tearing his medial ligament against West Ham back on May 10. That first-half tangle with Crysencio Summerville put an end to his campaign, ruling him out of Arsenal’s final three league fixtures, the Champions League final, and Thomas Tuchel’s England setup for the 2026 World Cup in the States. It capped off a frustrating year for a player who managed just seven Premier League starts all season. (Via Evening Standard)
No fuss from White
Yet, as the rest of the squad reported back on Monday, White was all smiles. No massive fanfare. No cryptic social media posts. Just straight to the point. Talking to Sky Sports, he brushed off any lingering worries about his knee with classic, understated calm. He confirmed he has been training every day and actually rejoined team sessions last week. Turns out he was already putting in the hard yards at a warm-weather training camp in Marbella a week earlier. Given that some in the medical staff were floating the idea of surgery back in May, seeing him fully integrated this early is a massive relief for Arteta.
Timber takes the slow route
Jurrien Timber’s situation requires a bit more patience. The Dutch defender’s luck has been rotten over the past year. A stubborn groin injury picked up against Everton in March kept him out for over two months. He managed a brief cameo off the bench in the European final, but that was about it. The issue was severe enough to force his withdrawal from the Netherlands World Cup squad before the tournament even kicked off.
He was present at Colney this week, but he isn’t back in full training just yet. He admitted himself that he is taking things slowly, rehabbing over the summer months with the hope of returning to the grass soon.
Warm-up schedule and the run-in
That cautious tone is understandable. Rushing Timber back last year backfired, and nobody at the club wants a repeat performance. Arsenal’s pre-season calendar is packed. They travel to Spain to face Girona at Estadi Montilivi on August 1, followed by a trip to Dublin to play Real Betis on August 5. Then come the Emirates Cup clashes against Borussia Dortmund and Como, before the curtain-raiser against FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield at Cardiff on August 16.
Whether Timber features in those early friendlies is doubtful, but he might get minutes late in the warm-up program. Arteta will want both men up to speed before Coventry visit North London for the Premier League opener on August 21.
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A necessary boost for defensive depth
Having White fit and raring to go gives Arsenal immediate balance down the right side. Timber’s slow recovery is a minor headache, sure, but taking the cautious route now saves a massive headache come November. If both full-backs are match-fit by mid-August, Arsenal start the campaign with genuine depth in areas that cost them dearly during the run-in last spring. That might just be the margin Arteta needs.