Arsenal’s Ben White on Track to Return for Pre-Season Training

Ben White, the 27-year-old Arsenal defender, has been making encouraging progress in his recovery from a significant medial knee ligament injury that ended his 2025/26 campaign. The injury, which he suffered against West Ham United in May, ruled him out of the Champions League final and dashed his hopes of representing England at the World Cup.

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Arsenal initially stated that they were targeting a return for White in time for the club’s pre-season preparations, and it appears that the defender is on course to meet that objective. The news will come as a relief to Arsenal fans, who had been worried about the prospect of losing one of their key players during the summer transfer window.

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The injury was a significant setback for White, who had established himself as a regular starter for the Gunners. However, with the 2025/26 season now behind him, White will be looking to put the injury behind him and focus on getting back to full fitness.

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The future of Ben White has been the subject of sustained speculation in recent months, with reported interest from Everton and Crystal Palace. However, the injury has complicated the situation, and it remains to be seen whether White will be able to secure a move away from the Emirates Stadium.

According to Gary Jacob of The Times, White was ‘unlikely to take a drop in level’ this summer. This suggests that White is keen to remain at a top-flight club and will not be tempted by the prospect of dropping down to the lower divisions.

As the closing months of the 2025/26 season unfolded, White increasingly appeared to be a player who could leave Arsenal during the transfer window. However, with July half done, reports have become far less definitive over his future.

A return to full training during pre-season could strengthen interest from potential suitors, but any approach before White has demonstrated his fitness is unlikely to match Arsenal’s valuation. If White is also reluctant to take a step down, the number of realistic options becomes even smaller.

As things stand, a summer departure looks less likely than it did last month, and there aren’t many who would be sad about that – as long as Arsenal can get, and keep, him fit.

In conclusion, the news that Ben White is on track to return for pre-season training will be a welcome development for Arsenal fans. While the future of the defender remains uncertain, one thing is clear: White will be looking to put the injury behind him and focus on getting back to full fitness.