Gareth Southgate reveals Arsenal defender Ben White rejected England call-up
The 26-year-old has been in impressive form for a Gunners side competing in a three-way Premier League title race and in the latter stages of the Champions League, chipping in with two goals and four assists in 39 appearances so far this season.
White, who has signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal, has made a seamless transition from centre-back to right-back since joining Arsenal in 2021 and has been ever-present under Mikel Arteta, featuring in all 38 Premier League games last season and missing just one of the club's 28 top-flight matches so far this term.
The defender's form has caught the eye of England boss Southgate, who has admitted that he would have called up the former Brighton & Hove Albion man if he had made himself available for selection.
White has earned four caps for England and was part of the squad that reached the Euro 2020 final, although the defender remained an unused substitute throughout the tournament.
Arsenal's No.4 withdrew from England's 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar for personal reasons amid reports of a fallout with assistant coach Steve Holland.
Southgate has since confirmed that Arsenal sporting director Edu got in touch to confirm White's decision to be left out of this month's squad, even though the «door was wide open» for him to return.
«We had a call from Edu last week saying Ben didn't want to be considered for England squads at the moment,» Southgate said at a press conference on Thursday. «I spoke to him post-Qatar and there was reticence from his side. I don't know why that is.
»There is no
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