Ben White concern emerges after Arsenal’s Champions League win at Napoli

Arsenal beat Napoli 1-0 on Wednesday night.

It’s another clean sheet, another goal for Martin Odegaard, and another step towards going one better in the Champions League this season.

But the post-match mood has been tempered slightly by a worrying sight.

Soon after the match, Sam Dean of the Telegraph wrote on X: “Ben White was walking very gingerly as he made his way to the tunnel after the full-time whistle.”

White was substituted for Martin Zubimendi in the 82nd minute, marking the first time the defender hadn’t completed 90 minutes in Arsenal’s campaign so far.

Nothing has since come out about the seriousness of White’s condition, and this all could be just the accumulated fatigue of a gruelling victory in extremely humid conditions in Naples.

But it’s definitely one to keep an eye on and hopefully we’ll get an update soon.

Ben White is so important to Arsenal right now

White has played almost every minute of Arsenal’s season so far, which is a workload the club probably didn’t anticipate after his name was linked with a move away in the early part of the summer. With Jurrien Timber still working his way back to full fitness, White has been indispensable.

And he’s been really good too. He might not be the defender he used to be, but going forward he still offers so much for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Gary Neville compared the White, Saka and Odegaard combination to the Cole, Pires and Henry triumvirate. The clockwork movement and the seamless interchanging cause so many problems for the opposition. It’s some of the most scintillating football Arsenal have produced under Arteta.

There’s even an argument that Timber, when fully fit, will struggle to walk straight back into the team. White has made himself that difficult to drop.

For now, Arsenal fans will hope Wednesday night’s ‘gingerly walk’ was nothing more than tired legs after a job well done.