Arsenal defender Ben White don miss di rest of di season wit medial ligament injury for im knee. Di 28-year-old, wey comot for first half of Sunday win against West Ham, no go need surgery, but nobody know how long e go take recover.
White go miss di Premier League run-in, as Arsenal dey face Burnley and Crystal Palace for di title race. Di Gunners dey try win dia first top-flight title for 22 years. E go also miss di Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30.
Di injury mean say White, wey Thomas Tuchel call back to England squad for March, be major doubt for di World Cup for USA, Canada and Mexico. Tuchel go pick im tournament squad on Friday May 22.
Arsenal statement tok: “Our medical team are now managing Ben’s recovery and rehabilitation programme, with everyone fully focused on supporting di aim of Ben being ready for di start of our pre-season preparations.”
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz yarn say Arsenal get right-back shortage for di most crucial part of di season. Mikel Arteta dey hope to get di club first Premier League title for 22 years plus dia first ever Champions League trophy. But now di right side of defence need rethink.
Not only be dis blow for White, but Arteta no dey confident say Jurrien Timber go fit play again dis season. Timber neva play since di 2-0 win over Everton on March 14.
So wetin di Gunners go do now? Cristhian Mosquera be di most likely candidate to take right-back mantle between now and end of season. Di Spaniard don play 430 minutes for dat position dis season for Premier League and Champions League, and e play second half of win over West Ham for dat role.
Mosquera get plenty experience for Arsenal dis season, and e start di defeat to Manchester City for April at right-back. But a player wey don make just 17 starts for Arsenal now dey line up to play three of di biggest games for dia history.
Dere be Declan Rice as right-back option, if needed. However, di England midfielder be key cog for middle of di park, and Arteta experiment of putting Rice at right-back for 20 minutes at West Ham on Sunday no work.
Paul Scholes don suggest say Declan Rice fit be di ideal emergency solution for Arsenal mounting injury crisis at right-back. Di Manchester United legend believe say Rice physical attributes and tactical discipline make am natural fit for defensive role.
Scholes yarn on di podcast: “Declan Rice looks like e would suit playing at right-back to me. E fit play dere. E no be big creator anyway.” Podcast co-host Nicky Butt draw parallels between Rice versatility and Roy Keane during im prime, saying: “Roy Keane played right-back for two-thirds of a season.”
Arsenal don also confirm Jakub Kiwior transfer to Porto on permanent basis. Kiwior join Portuguese club on season-long loan last year wey don become permanent. Porto confirm say dem activate option to sign di Polish defender on four-year contract, wit £14million deal wey fit increase to £19m.
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