Mikel Arteta said Ben White and Jurrien Timber will miss Arsenal's match against Burnley on Monday night, with the manager describing White's problem as a long-term injury and warning that the defender's return is not expected for many, many weeks.
The update came on Thursday as Arsenal prepared for their final home game of the 2025/26 season at Emirates Stadium. Arteta said the club will have to look at alternatives at right-back because the two defenders he wants to use there are not available at the moment.
White picked up his injury against West Ham, and Arteta said the focus now is getting him back and available for Arsenal. He added that White's absence could run deep into the coming weeks, a setback that also raises fresh doubts over his chances of featuring in England's World Cup plans. Timber, meanwhile, has been out since March and remains unavailable for the Burnley visit.
There is still uncertainty around Riccardo Calafiori, who was forced off in Arsenal's win over West Ham last weekend. Arteta said he did not know whether the defender would be ready for Monday night, adding that the club still has days ahead to see how he reacts. The manager said Calafiori wanted to stay close to the team and has progressed a little in the last few days, but Arsenal will wait before making a call.
For Arsenal, the timing is awkward. The club is heading into the last home match of the season with its right side of defence stretched and little certainty over when White will return. That leaves Arteta juggling immediate selection problems with a longer absence that may shape the start of next season as well. More background on White's setback is available in a previous update on his absence and the growing right-back concern for Arteta.
