Ben White receiving treatment during Arsenal vs Wolves at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal returned to winning ways on Saturday night with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Wolves, but the result came at a cost as Ben White was forced off injured, deepening the club’s growing defensive crisis.
The Gunners laboured for long spells against Wolves at the Emirates Stadium and ultimately relied on two own goals to secure all three points. While the win pushed Arsenal five points clear at the top of the Premier League, the performance and another injury setback left manager Mikel Arteta far from satisfied.
White was making his fourth consecutive start after recently returning from a knee issue, but his comeback was cut short just 30 minutes into the match. The right-back signalled to the bench that he could not continue after feeling discomfort in his hamstring and was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The injury is a major concern for Arteta, particularly with Arsenal already missing key defenders Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, and Cristhian Mosquera. White’s return had been timely, especially with Jurrien Timber only recently settling into the right-back role earlier in the season.
Speaking after the match, Arteta did not hide his concern.
“He felt something in his hamstring, and it is not good news,” the Arsenal boss said. “It’s linked to the amount of minutes he’s had because we didn’t really have any other solution.”
Despite extending Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table, Arteta was critical of his side’s overall display, describing it as “nowhere near the levels required.” The manager acknowledged the physical demands placed on his squad as injuries continue to pile up during a congested run of fixtures.
Arsenal had entered the game under pressure after losing to Aston Villa last weekend, making the victory essential. However, the manner of the win and White’s injury ensured it was far from a perfect night in north London.
With crucial matches approaching, Arsenal’s defensive depth is now firmly under scrutiny. If White is sidelined for an extended period, Arteta may be forced into further tactical adjustments or rely heavily on inexperienced options as the title race intensifies.
For now, Arsenal will celebrate another win and their growing lead at the summit, but concerns over fitness and squad durability remain very real.
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