Ben White is an absolute mainstay at Arsenal FC, so the 26-year-old would also be an asset to the Three Lions. But White doesn’t want to, as national team coach Gareth Southgate revealed
Ben White has played 27 Premier League games for the Gunners and has therefore played an active role in keeping Arsenal in the title race. His qualities would certainly also be in demand in the England national team, but the right-back is missing from national team coach Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming test matches against Brazil (March 23) and Belgium (March 26).
The England coach confirmed that Arsenal’s sporting director Edu had said that White no longer wanted to be considered and that Edu himself did not know why White had made this decision. Southgate described the right-back’s absence as “unfortunate”, but he also stressed that the door remains open for White “because I think he is a good player and a player who could make a difference for England”. However, Southgate also emphasized that White’s chances of a European Championship ticket are rather slim at the moment. “Obviously it would be difficult to be there in June because others have been in the squad and have played regularly,” explained the 57-year-old.
White, who recently extended his contract with Arsenal by a year ahead of schedule, has not been available to the Three Lions since the World Cup. In Qatar, he left early after the second group game “for personal reasons”, and later there were unconfirmed reports in the English media of a dispute with co-coach Steve Holland and integration problems within the team.
Phillips missing due to poor form
In addition to White, Kalvin Phillips is another World Cup player missing from the Three Lions squad. Unlike White, however, the 28-year-old is going through a difficult time in his sporting career. He had barely played a role at Manchester City – and any hopes of an improvement, which had been linked with his January move to West Ham United, have since been dashed. “Unfortunately, his form just wasn’t good enough,” said Southgate, explaining his decision not to call him up.
England will face Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in the preliminary round of the European Championship
