[Backport 7.17] Accept null values in arrays

[github-actions]

Backport 58072b4 from #68

[ilgrosso]

With 7.16.2 I am glad to confirm that everything works, thanks @swallez !

I also have to confirm that there is something messing with transitive dependencies, since without adding

<dependency>
  <groupId>jakarta.json</groupId>
  <artifactId>jakarta.json-api</artifactId>
  <version>2.0.1</version>
</dependency>

I receive ClassNotFoundException for jakarta/json/JsonException.