Paul Merson now believes that Jurrien Timber is going to miss the Carabao Cup final and Ben White will be the player who starts at right-back for Arsenal.
Timber missed training on Monday ahead of Bayer Leverkusen and was subsequently ruled out of the 2-0 Champions League win.
True or false: Arsenal are a better team when Ben White plays over Jurrien Timber…
Next up for the Gunners is the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, with Arsenal looking to win the first leg of a potential quadruple.
White took his place in the team, and he was subbed off after 68 minutes, suggesting that Mikel Arteta is saving him for the cup final on the weekend.
Paul Merson thinks Jurrien Timber will miss the Carabao Cup final
Paul Merson believes Arteta’s decision to sub off Ben White early against Bayer Leverkusen proves Jurrien Timber will miss the Carabao Cup final.
The £38m defender has been struggling with an ankle injury and was forced off against Everton because of it.
Now, the 24-year-old looks set to be ruled out of Sunday’s clash against Manchester City at Wembley, according to Merson.
Speaking about White, Merson told Sky Sports Soccer Special: “White, you know, sat there, waited. He comes in, he didn’t do anything wrong, but Timber would probably play.
“But then White, White came off. So, if White’s coming off, that tells me that he’s probably playing and they haven’t got another right back and he’s got to play in the final. So, for me, yeah, the team won’t be far off the starting team tonight.”
Only Declan Rice, David Raya and Martin Zubimendi have played more minutes than him this season; therefore, it’s not a bad thing that he is getting a chance to rest.
Arteta has been reluctant to rest Timber and utilise White, playing him on just eight occasions during 2026 so far.
Ben White makes Bukayo Saka much better for Arsenal
Bukayo Saka could benefit from White playing, as the winger often looks at his best when he has an overlapping full-back like the former Brighton man.
Saka looked back to his best against Leverkusen, and it was no coincidence that White was playing as the right-back over Timber.
What is an appropriate price for Arsenal to sell Ben White for?
However, the England international could be sold in the summer as Arsenal are already looking at right-backs ahead of the summer transfer window.
White has plenty of interest from elsewhere, and his time at the Emirates Stadium looks to be drawing to a close; therefore, he should be extra motivated to go out with a bang.
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