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Arsenal are facing a defensive selection dilemma at a crucial stage of the season, with injuries to Ben White and Jurrien Timber threatening to disrupt their title charge and preparations for the UEFA Champions League final, as reported by Football.london, on Wednesday May 13, 2026.
White is set to miss the remainder of the campaign after sustaining a knee injury, suspected to be medial ligament damage, during the recent win over West Ham United.
The right-back had re-established himself as a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s system, playing an important role in both the club’s push for the Premier League title and their run to the European final.
His absence presents a significant setback, particularly given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Timber.
The Dutch defender has not featured since suffering a groin injury against Everton in March, and his recovery has taken longer than initially anticipated.
Arteta admitted the situation remains unclear. “There’s still a fair bit to do,” he said, casting doubt on whether Timber, or Mikel Merino, who is recovering from a fractured foot, will play again this season.
He later acknowledged the difficulty of managing the situation, adding that Timber is “not fit to play” at present.
The defender has yet to return to full training, though he has remained involved around the squad, offering support from the sidelines.
His absence, combined with White’s injury, leaves Arsenal short of natural options at right-back during a defining stretch of fixtures.
In response, Arteta has been forced to improvise. Declan Rice was briefly deployed in the role during the win over West Ham, with Martin Zubimendi introduced in midfield to compensate. While the reshuffle proved functional in-game, it is not seen as a long-term solution.
The most likely option now appears to be Cristhian Mosquera, who stepped in at half-time in that match and is expected to start against Burnley.
Naturally a centre-back, Mosquera offers defensive solidity but lacks the attacking fluency typically associated with Arsenal’s full-backs.
Alternative solutions, such as shifting Myles Lewis-Skelly or Riccardo Calafiori into the position, risk further disrupting the team’s structure, something Arteta may be reluctant to do with so much at stake.
