Gary Neville has criticized Ben White for his role in the injury sustained during Arsenal's 1-0 victory over West Ham, suggesting the right-back's positioning was reckless and easily avoidable. The incident occurred in the first half when White challenged Summerville, forcing Mikel Arteta to shuffle his defensive setup for the remainder of the match on Sunday evening.
Speaking on Sky Sports commentary, Neville was blunt in his assessment. "Ben White just hangs his leg there. It's poor from the right-back," the former Manchester United captain explained. "He's up against Summerville; he's got to be stronger than that. He's hurt himself there. That's easily prevented if you go in strong and with a real sturdy block. He's hung his leg out in pretty weak fashion—you're asking for trouble." Neville drew on his own playing experience, recalling similar defensive mistakes from his career and warning of potential consequences.
World Cup and Champions League Concerns
The severity of White's injury could have significant ramifications for both club and country. "Ben White will regret that because that could see him out of the World Cup," Neville added. Although the initial diagnosis remained unclear, injuries of this type typically sideline players for four to six weeks—a timeline that would jeopardize his availability for major tournaments and competitions. The injury came at a crucial stage of the season as Arsenal push toward title glory.
Despite the defensive disruption, Arsenal maintained their title ambitions with the narrow victory. The Gunners now sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and require just two wins from their remaining matches to secure the title. Neville suggested this West Ham encounter may prove to be the pivotal moment of Arsenal's campaign. "This is one of those moments where Arsenal might think their name is on the trophy," he remarked, emphasizing how the result—aided by VAR intervention—could define their pursuit of a first league title since 2004.
With Arsenal's fixture list drawing to a close, every match carries enormous weight. How White's injury affects Arteta's defensive options and whether the Gunners can overcome this setback will shape the final chapter of their season.
