SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Transfer deadline: 3 hrs 33 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
EN
England national football team
Friendlies 1
Mar 23, 2024 at 7pm UK
Wembley Stadium
BN
Brazil national football team

England
0 - 1
Brazil


Bellingham (13')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Endrick (80')
Paqueta (34')

Gareth Southgate reveals Arsenal defender Ben White rejected England call-up

:Headline: Gareth Southgate reveals Arsenal defender Ben White rejected England call-up:
England manager Gareth Southgate confirms that Arsenal defender Ben White made himself unavailable for selection for international friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this month.
Sports Mole
Gareth Southgate reveals Ben White rejected England call-up

England manager Gareth Southgate has revealed that Arsenal defender Ben White made himself unavailable for selection for international friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this month.

The 26-year-old has been in impressive form for a Gunners side competing in a three-way Premier League title race and in the latter stages of the Champions League, chipping in with two goals and four assists in 39 appearances so far this season.

White, who has signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal, has made a seamless transition from centre-back to right-back since joining Arsenal in 2021 and has been ever-present under Mikel Arteta, featuring in all 38 Premier League games last season and missing just one of the club's 28 top-flight matches so far this term.

The defender's form has caught the eye of England boss Southgate, who has admitted that he would have called up the former Brighton & Hove Albion man if he had made himself available for selection.

White has earned four caps for England and was part of the squad that reached the Euro 2020 final, although the defender remained an unused substitute throughout the tournament.

Arsenal's No.4 withdrew from England's 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar for personal reasons amid reports of a fallout with assistant coach Steve Holland.

Gareth Southgate reveals Ben White rejected England call-up

Southgate has since confirmed that Arsenal sporting director Edu got in touch to confirm White's decision to be left out of this month's squad, even though the "door was wide open" for him to return.

"We had a call from Edu last week saying Ben didn't want to be considered for England squads at the moment," Southgate said at a press conference on Thursday. "I spoke to him post-Qatar and there was reticence from his side. I don't know why that is.

"There is no issue between us at all and there's also no issue with Steve, which has been mentioned in articles and I don't like that.

"I have to accept things are false about me, but I'm not prepared for that to happen to my coaching team. That is not the reason Ben is not with us."

"[White] would be in this squad but he's not available to us and I have to focus on who can help us," Southgate added. "Clearly on form. I can't sit here and say he doesn't deserve to be in.

"It is a great shame. He is a player we took to the Euros, a player we took to the World Cup and I spoke to him post-Qatar because I wanted to pick him.

"People have given me a lot of stick for not picking players in the past who haven't made themselves available. But I've always been able to keep them out of that story.

"On this occasion, because of the circumstances around the number of injuries and his decision to come off the long list I've got to be more transparent."

Asked whether White is indicating he will not represent England while Southgate remains in charge, the Three Lions boss said: "I don't know the answer to that. I hope that's not the reason."

Southgate has selected a total of eight defenders for his England squad, including Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite who has received his first senior call-up.

England will face Brazil at Wembley Stadium on March 23 before playing host to Belgium just three days later.

body check tags ::

amp_article__538967 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-03-14 19:21:03:
html db last update - 2024-03-14 19:21:03 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Gareth Southgate

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Branthwaite called up to England squad, Phillips dropped
Marco and Marcus: PSG winger follows Rashford to Aston Villa on loan
The fab fourth? Man City 'agree payment structure' for £49.8m midfielder
Aston Villa to rival Newcastle for Kieran Tierney?
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23175156213556
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
6Chelsea23117545301540
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2481063538-334
11Brentford2494114242031
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham2376102844-1627
16Everton236892328-526
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Maldini in League Two: Arsenal confirm first deadline day transfer!

1

MI
Maldini in League Two: Arsenal confirm first deadline day transfer!

One in, two out? Chelsea confirm key recall decision as 22-year-old returns

NEW

2

OI
One in, two out? Chelsea confirm key recall decision as 22-year-old returns

'Medical booked' for Man United first-teamer ahead of deadline day exit

NEW

3

'B
'Medical booked' for Man United first-teamer ahead of deadline day exit

Amorim's playmaker: Man United to target former player in summer?

4

AP
Amorim's playmaker: Man United to target former player in summer?

Chelsea closing in on £15m deal for Saint-Etienne midfielder?

5

CC
Chelsea closing in on £15m deal for Saint-Etienne midfielder?

Preview: Leganes vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PL
Preview: Leganes vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Holding firm: Villa 'unlikely to let Bailey leave' amid Man United interest

7

HF
Holding firm: Villa 'unlikely to let Bailey leave' amid Man United interest

Chelsea 'hold talks' for Sporting youngster ahead of deadline day deal

8

C'
Chelsea 'hold talks' for Sporting youngster ahead of deadline day deal

Transfer news and rumours: Asensio to Aston Villa, Palmer to Ipswich

9

TN

Chilwell to Palace contract details revealed: How much of his wages will Chelsea pay?

10

CT
1x1


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .