After Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth, fear started to set in ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg.
Arsenal lost 2-1 to Bournemouth at home to see their top-two finish put under threat as Manchester City close in.
Mikel Arteta was furious with the match officials after Evanilson’s goal was cleared for a handball offence, extending the Gunners’ poor run of form.
It’s now three games in all competitions without a win for Arsenal, with a season-defining clash with Paris Saint-Germain fast approaching in the Champions League.
Ben White struggled against Bournemouth ahead of PSG test
The defeat to the Cherries wasn’t Arteta’s only concern ahead of facing PSG, as an ominous injury update emerged post-match.
Arteta revealed that he’s ‘not confident’ that Jurrien Timber will be fit to face the Parisiens, leaving the Gunners with Ben White as backup.
Timber was ruled out against Bournemouth due to injury, and now, fans have learned that the Dutchman could miss the midweek clash at the Parc des Princes.
Normally, White would be considered a strong backup to Timber, but after the Englishman’s performance against Bournemouth, doubt is setting in.
| Ben White’s disaster vs Bournemouth |
| 5/11 duels won |
| 3x dribbled past |
| 8x possession lost |
| 79% pass completion |
| 0 key passes |
| 0 successful dribbles |
White won only 45% of his attempted duels against the Cherries and was dribbled past three times, the most of any Arsenal defender on the pitch.
The right-back has struggled to hit his past levels this season, mostly due to an injury that required surgery, but with the Gunners’ biggest game in recent history approaching, some fans are unable to feel sympathetic.
Arsenal fans are concerned for White against PSG
On social media, some Arsenal supporters reacted to White’s performance against Bournemouth, looking ahead to the PSG clash on Wednesday night.
“Ben White facing Kvara and Doue,” a fan wrote, fearing how the defender could be exposed by PSG’s remarkable wide threat.
“Give Desire Doue a Ben White sesh and PSG fans will forget Neymar existed,” another pessimistic supporter said on X.
Another fan admitted they were scared after seeing how White was exploited by Bournemouth.
“Ben White is scaring me for Wednesday bruh,” as another agreed, “Ben white Can’t defend wide spaces. Timber and Myles aren’t losing their starting spots anytime soon.”
Being dribbled past three times was certainly not part of White’s game plan, seeing one supporter accuse the Englishman of getting ‘burned’.
“Ben White defensively not it. Not right now. He’s getting burned worst than before the surgery.”
One fan even pleaded for injury-cursed Takehiro Tomiyasu to return.
“Ben white is horrid can’t wait till tomiyasu is back.”
With Timber a doubt to face PSG, White is likely to be Arteta’s solution to the Dutchman’s injury, giving the former Brighton ace the chance to redeem himself.
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