Ben White omitted, Mikel Merino returns to Arsenal squad ahead of title-clinching run

Arsenal’s squad picture shifted again on Thursday, with Ben White omitted from selection while Mikel Merino returned to availability ahead of the club’s final stretch of the season. Heavy reported White’s absence and Merino’s return on May 21, adding another layer to Mikel Arteta’s planning before Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30. UEFA says the final will be played at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, with kickoff set for 18:00 CEST. Arteta had already signaled last week that Arsenal were still waiting on several defenders. In comments published by Arsenal on May 14, he said there was “not much” of an update on White, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber before the club’s final home game, while leaving open the possibility that some sidelined players could still be involved. Arsenal’s official squad page continues to list both White and Merino among the first-team group. (heavy.com) ### Why is Ben White’s status getting attention now? Ben White’s omission matters because Arsenal are 9 days from a European final and White had been used heavily in recent matches. The Telegraph reported on May 12 that White had started 10 of Arsenal’s previous 12 games in all competitions after re-establishing himself at right back. USA Today also reported that week that Arsenal would be without White for the Champions League final, though Arsenal have not published a final matchday squad for Budapest. (arsenal.com) Arsenal’s own injury update on May 14 did not declare White available. Arteta said the club was still assessing White, Calafiori and Timber ahead of Burnley, which left White’s condition unresolved going into this week. ### What changed with Mikel Merino? Mikel Merino’s return gives Arteta one more senior midfield option as Arsenal manage the days before Budapest. (telegraph.co.uk) Heavy reported on Thursday that Merino had returned, and Arsenal News also reported that Merino was back in full training on May 21. That report said Arteta could manage the Spain international’s workload over the coming days. Arsenal had previously listed Merino among the senior midfielders in the first-team squad. (arsenal.com) Arteta had discussed Merino’s condition earlier this month. In an Arsenal press conference item published May 8, he gave an update on Merino and Timber before a London derby, showing that Merino had already been part of the club’s injury-monitoring picture during the run to the final. ### What was the PSG “advantage” Arsenal were said to have erased? (heavy.com) Football.London reported that a PSG advantage had been “wiped out” before the final, a line later picked up in wider aggregation. Search results and follow-on coverage indicate the issue centered on pre-final conditions rather than a change to the fixture itself, but the underlying Football.London article was not directly accessible in full during reporting, so its exact framing could not be independently reproduced here. (arsenal.com) What is confirmed is the fixture: PSG will play Arsenal in Budapest on May 30. PSG’s own team news has also been part of the buildup. The broader reporting cycle this week has focused on injuries and availability on both sides before the final, with Arsenal’s White and Merino updates forming part of that picture. ### What comes next for Arsenal before Budapest? (msn.com) May 30 is the fixed point in Arsenal’s calendar now. UEFA’s final information page says Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal will meet at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, and UEFA’s scheduling page lists kickoff at 18:00 CEST on Saturday, May 30. Arsenal’s selection decisions over the next several days will determine whether White can recover in time and how much Merino is able to contribute. (heavy.com) (uefa.com)