Arsenal defender Ben White could be named in the England squad for upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers after Gareth Southgate reached out to hold clear-the-air talks.
White has not been involved with England since leaving Qatar midway through the World Cup after allegedly falling out with assistant coach Steve Holland. The Arsenal defender did not play a single minute for the Three Lions and the Football Association cited “personal reasons” when he left the Al Wakrah training base.
The 25-year-old reportedly had a fiery argument with Holland in front of the rest of the squad after Southgate’s assistant accused him of not knowing key information from training and about upcoming opponents the USA.
White was omitted from the only squad Southgate has named since the World Cup and appeared to be on the outside. However, the Daily Mail reports that Southgate has personally spoken to White in an effort to clear the air and assess his interest in coming back into the fold.
Southgate will name his squad for upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia on Wednesday. The Three Lions travel to play Malta on June 16 before hosting North Macedonia at Wembley three days later.
White’s chances of featuring have been bolstered by his solid form for Arsenal this season, but also by factors beyond his control. Kyle Walker is unlikely to play against Malta because Manchester City play Inter Milan in the Champions League just six days beforehand.
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Meanwhile, Reece James is out injured and Trent Alexander-Arnold has struggled to get into the England side and has been playing a hybrid midfield role of late. That puts White in the picture to play at right-back, alongside Kieran Trippier.
White has played in all 37 of Arsenal’s Premier League matches this season and will be involved when Mikel Arteta’s side finish their campaign against Wolves on Sunday. The £50million defender has only picked up four England caps so far since making his debut in June 2021.
Speaking to Mirror Football in March, former England right-back Danny Mills questioned Soutgate’s exclusion of White in his squad to face Italy and Ukraine. He said: “He's playing a little bit out of position at right back, I understand that, again is not 100 per cent guaranteed to be in that Arsenal team. There's also the issue that he left the World Cup early. No one's mentioned it. Why?
"We've had no answer or no reason why he left the World Cup early. There's been nothing confirmed as to why he left the England camp, so you have to put that down as well to either he left - and he didn't come out and say for himself it was personal reasons, he just left - so, I'm going to put two and two together and presume there's a slight issue in there.
"What that is, I don't know, but I'm not going mad by thinking clearly there's some sort of issue. So that might be one of the reasons he's not in and around it, but also there are better options."
