Mikel Arteta hopes Ben White ends England boycott as Arsenal manager opens up on defender’s protest
MIKEL ARTETA hopes Ben White ends his England call-up protest soon.
Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate revealed this month that Arsenal technical director Edu had informed him that the Gunners defender did NOT want to be selected for friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
It is alleged that White fell out with Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland at the Qatar World Cup in November 2022 before coming home from the tournament early.
Southgate denied these claims and says the door is open for the former Brighton full-back to return.
White spent this international break on holiday in Dubai – but is set to start against Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday.
Arteta refused to rule out the prospect of White one day returning to the England set-up, but the Arsenal boss stressed the decision was his to make.
The Gunners chief said: “As manager I want the best for him, personally and professionally, and he really needs to feel it.
“And if one day he does return to England, and that’s the case, then yea.
“I think that would be the best option for everybody. But you have to respect that.
“He has received a lot of love. You just have to see what his team-mates and everyone in football thinks of him especially the ones who have been close to him.
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“People have respected his decision. Hopefully, he’s prepared to represent his country in the best way possible one day. But that’s completely up to him.”
White made his senior international debut for England in 2021 at the age of 23 in England’s 1-0 victory over Austria.
The 26-year-old has four England caps and was selected for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
Ben White's England row
IN November 2022, White was named in England's 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup.
He left the tournament due to personal reasons on 30 November, and was not expected to return.
Earlier this month Gareth Southgate said that White had informed England that he did not want to be considered for selection.
Southgate denied that personal issues between himself and White or between White and England coach Steve Holland.
Southgate said the “door was wide open” for him to return. He added: “White would be in this squad but he’s not available to us and I have to focus on who can help us.”
But White’s exile from the Three Lions squad started with a “barbed comment” from Southgate’s assistant Holland in front of other members in the England squad at the World Cup.