Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal defender Ben White could be set for a long-awaited return to international football, with new England manager Thomas Tuchel reportedly opening the door for his comeback ahead of this summer’s World Cup qualifiers.
White has not featured for the Three Lions since the 2022 World Cup, amid reports of a fallout with former assistant coach Steve Holland. However, with Holland and Gareth Southgate both stepping down after England’s Euro 2024 final loss, Tuchel’s arrival signals a potential fresh start for the 26-year-old.
Speaking about his absence and recent conversations with Tuchel, White revealed: “I’m definitely available. I spoke to him a few times and he’s such a nice, nice man — very honest. Obviously, I haven’t been back for too long, so it’s just about playing now and hopefully making my way back in.”
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White’s season was hampered by a knee injury that kept him sidelined from November until March. A recurrence of the issue further limited his appearances, restricting him to just 25 outings from a possible 56 games across all competitions.
Ben White (Image credit: Getty Images)Since his £50 million move from Brighton in 2021, White has transitioned from centre-back to right-back, becoming one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers in that role. Despite the arrival of Jurrien Timber as full-back competition in 2023, both players struggled with long-term injuries, with Timber missing nearly the entirety of his debut season due to an ACL tear.
Reflecting on Arsenal’s campaign, which saw them eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain and finish without silverware for the fifth consecutive season, White is still hopeful for a strong end.
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“Obviously we can’t win it, but we still want to do as well as possible and get second place, which is really important. We just want to win games, which we know we can,” he said.
“This season, we’ve had a difficult time with injuries and I think we’ve done well with that. You see other teams that have had big injuries and they’re not sitting very well in the league. So yes, we’ve had some big injuries and I believe that it’s a credit to all the players that have come in and done so well.”
Arsenal will conclude their season against Southampton, after which White will turn his attention to England’s World Cup qualifier against Andorra on June 7 — a fixture that could mark his long-awaited return to the national team fold.
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