How Ben White England decision impacts Arsenal as Mikel Arteta handed unexpected boost
Few eyebrows were raised when Ben White was omitted from the latest England squad. The 26-year-old hasn't featured for the Three Lions since leaving the Qatar World Cup for personal reasons. Gareth Southgate's explanation of this latest admission was a bit of a shock, however.
“We, John McDermott and I, had a call from Edu (Arsenal sporting director) last week (and he) said Ben didn’t want to be considered for England squads at this time," the England manager told reporters on Thursday afternoon. “For me that is a great shame. He is a player we took to the Euros, a player we took to the World Cup and I spoke to him post-Qatar because I wanted to pick him."
Reports at the time of White's early return from Qatar suggested that a fall out with England assistant Steve Holland had been the reason for the premature departure. However, Southgate moved to deny these claims.
«There is no issue between us at all and there's also no issue with Steve, which has been mentioned in articles and I don't like that,» he said. «I have to accept things are false about me, but I'm not prepared for that to happen to my coaching team. That is not the reason Ben is not with us.»
In the past Southgate has suggested that White has simply not been picked on merit. However, with Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier all out injured, the 53-year-old seemed to suggest that he didn't feel he could do so again.
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“Clearly on form I can’t sit here and say he doesn’t deserve to be in. People have given me a lot of stick for not picking players in the past who haven't made themselves available.
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