Gareth Southgate Addresses Arsenal's Ben White Declining England Call-Up

Gareth Southgate, the England manager, has revealed that Ben White, the in-form Arsenal defender, has expressed his reluctance to be selected for the England national team at this time.

Despite his exceptional performance for the Premier League leaders, White has not been part of the national team since the 2022 World Cup. He returned from the World Cup early due to "personal reasons," with subsequent reports suggesting a potential disagreement with England assistant Steve Holland, an issue which Southgate dismissed on Thursday 13.

Southgate's Statement

Southgate expressed his disappointment at White's decision, stating, "For me, that’s a great shame. 

He’s a player I really like. He’s a player that we took to a Euros when he was at Brighton, a player that we took to the World Cup. I spoke to him post-Qatar because I was keen to pick him and there was clearly reticence on his side. I don’t know fully why that is, but I have to respect that". 

The England boss also mentioned that there are no issues between them and emphasized that the rumored discord with Steve Holland is unfounded. 

Despite White's unavailability for selection at present, Southgate expressed his willingness to keep the door open for the defender, acknowledging his potential to make a difference for England 13.

Other Stars Who Have Snubbed England Call-Up

Apart from Ben White, several other players have snubbed a call-up to the England national team in the past. Some of these players include Danny Drinkwater, who declined a call-up to help solve an injury crisis back in 2017, and Tom Ince, who also opted not to represent England for reasons he exclusively revealed. 

These developments come as Southgate announced his 25-man squad for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, with White notably absent from the list. 

In light of White's decision, questions arise about the possibility of his participation in the upcoming Euro 2024. Southgate expressed his desire to have White in the squad but stressed the need to focus on those who are available for selection at the moment. 

The situation with White underscores the complex dynamics involved in national team selections and the various factors that players consider when deciding on their international commitments.