Ben White of Arsenal Sidelined for Rest of Season as World Cup Hopes Fade

White was seen departing the London Stadium with a brace on his right knee following Arsenal's tight 1-0 victory against West Ham, leaving supporters anxious about the England international's condition.

The 28 year old had to leave the pitch during the opening half after clashing with West Ham's winger Crysencio Summerville, and The Athletic has now verified that he is set to sit out the remainder of the season.

The issue stems from a possible medial collateral ligament injury, which is a strip of tissue located on the inside of the knee that provides stability.

This development presents manager Mikel Arteta with a significant dilemma in team selection prior to the Champions League final scheduled for Saturday, May 30th, where he may rely on Cristhian Mosquera to fill in for White in the match against title holders Paris Saint Germain.

World Cup Participation Looks Unlikely

White's setback occurs just under two weeks before Thomas Tuchel announces his England lineup for the upcoming World Cup in the summer.

He made a return to the national side in March, ending a near four year absence, and it proved to be a strong comeback.

Further details on the severity of his injury are expected soon, though sources indicate that his chances of featuring in the World Cup are now slim, given that Tuchel is reluctant to include someone injured only 31 days prior to the tournament.

White had featured in a starting role in Arsenal's previous five matches, encompassing both fixtures of their Champions League semi final triumph over Atletico Madrid. His absence represents a substantial blow for the Gunners, who are due to play Burnley on Monday ahead of the Champions League decider.