Ex-England goalkeeper defends Ben White after Arsenal man made bold Gareth Southgate decision

Former England goalkeeper Ben Foster has defended Ben White for his decision to turn down a call-up from Gareth Southgate for the England squad. The Arsenal defender made the call ahead of the March international break.

White, who hasn't played for the Three Lions since March 2022 but was part of the World Cup team in Qatar later that year, left the camp midway through the tournament due to 'personal reasons'. This sparked rumours of a fallout with assistant manager Steve Holland.

Despite being in top form for Arsenal this season, the former Brighton and Leeds centre-back didn't want to be considered for Southgate's latest squad. Many have criticised White for his decision, including former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.

However, ex-England and Manchester United keeper Foster, who also turned down a call-up due to personal reasons earlier in his career, offered a more balanced perspective. «It's hard to know exactly what Ben White is like as a character,» Foster said on his podcast, The Fozcast. «There's been loads of stories floating around before about the fact that he doesn't particularly like football away from it.

»Obviously, when he turns up to his day job at Arsenal, he trains very well. See him on a Saturday afternoon he's been one of the best right-backs in the Premier League this season.

«But when it comes to all the other stuff, I get the vibe that he doesn't really enjoy it all, he doesn’t like the show of it all, especially going away with England.

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»It's a two-week period where he can have a real rest, a real shutdown, escape