Southgate Reveals Ben White Declined England Call-Up
Arsenal defender, Ben White, has reportedly snubbed a spot in the latest England squad, according to manager Gareth Southgate. This comes as a surprise, as White has not featured for the Three Lions since 2022. The defender was initially named in Southgate’s 26-man England squad ahead of the Qatar World Cup but left camp during the tournament due to personal reasons. Previous reports suggested that White left following an alleged bust-up with assistant coach Steve Holland, however, Southgate has since clarified that there is no rift between the two.
Southgate expressed his disappointment at White’s decision, stating, “On form, I can’t say he doesn’t deserve to be here. John McDermott had a call from Edu last week saying Ben didn’t want to be considered for England at this time. That’s a shame. He’s a player I really like. I spoke to him post Qatar and there was clearly reticence from his side. I don’t know fully why that is. But I want to leave the door open because he’s a good player. There is no issue between us at all.”
The England manager also emphasized that there is no issue with Steve Holland and expressed his disapproval of articles that have suggested otherwise. Southgate stated, “I should say there is no issue with Steve Holland, that has been mentioned in articles and I don’t like that. I have to accept things get said about me, and you have to stomach that, but I’m not prepared to have that for a key member of my coaching team because that is not the reason.”
Southgate affirmed that the door is still open for White to be considered for future squads, including the Euros in 2024. He said, “100 per cent (door is still open for Euros for White). He would be in this squad but he’s not available to us. I have to respect it. He’s not the first player who at times hasn’t wanted to be available for selection. I’ve always tried to protect those players. Sometimes as a leader you have to take the flak for others and give them the time to come through.”
White has been in excellent form for Arsenal this season, making 39 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side since the start of the campaign. He has scored two goals and provided four assists, showcasing his versatility and defensive capabilities. However, with his decision to decline the recent England call-up, it remains to be seen whether he will have a chance to represent his country in the near future.
Southgate acknowledged that it may be challenging for White to make the Euro 2024 squad, stating, “Clearly to come in for June now would be difficult because others will be in the squad and playing regularly. Whenever you have a situation like that, you have to assess those who have been on the journey all the way through.” Despite this setback, White’s impressive performances for Arsenal suggest that he still has a bright future ahead of him, and it will be interesting to see how his international career unfolds.