The story behind Ben White and England dramas

Ben White’s absence from the England squad, despite his strong performance for Arsenal, is due to his own request not to be considered for selection. Gareth Southgate, the England manager, has confirmed that White would have been included based on his form, but the defender expressed a desire to be left out.

This decision follows White’s early departure from the World Cup squad in Qatar, which was attributed to personal reasons. Southgate has left the door open for White’s return to the national team, respecting his wishes while also expressing his appreciation for White’s abilities. The situation remains open-ended, with Southgate and the Football Association willing to welcome White back when he feels ready.

Gareth Southgate: “Look, it’s absolutely the question you should ask. Clearly, on form, I can’t sit here and say he doesn’t deserve to be in. John McDermott had a call from Edu last week to say Ben didn’t want to be considered for England squads at this time.

“That’s a great shame. He’s a player I really like, a player we took to the Euros when he was at Brighton (in 2021), a player we took to the World Cup (2022). I spoke to him, post-Qatar, because I was keen to pick him but there was clearly reticence on his side.

“I don’t know fully why that is, but I have to respect that. The e door is open for him because he’s a good player who can make a difference for England, but he’s not available to us.”

It appears Gareth Southgate isn’t telling the full truth when he said he doesn’t fully know the reason why Ben White doesn’t want to play for his country.

The Athletic have revealed more details on why Ben White was sent home from the England squad in Qatar and why he currently remains absent from the international set-up, despite his great form at club level this season.

The Athletic reports that Ben White engaged in a dispute with England’s assistant manager Steve Holland, during which the Arsenal player was subjected to a stern reprimand from Southgate’s deputy. The 26-year-old, already struggling to adapt to the international football scene, became the target of Holland’s ire.

During one meeting, Holland seemed to believe that White was not engaging with the necessary seriousness, leading to a heated altercation in front of other players that sparked considerable debate within England’s squad.”