Former Arsenal right-back Carl Jenkinson has discussed the decision for England to not call Ben White up to the latest men’s senior national team squad.
The 26-year-old has continued to impress at the Emirates Stadium over the past two seasons, despite Mikel Arteta moving his position.
Ben White was previously a centre-back during his time at Brighton and in his first year at Arsenal, but he has since been switched to right-back.
In that role, the defender has scored six goals and assisted his teammates ten times as his marauding runs down the flank have become a trademark.
Despite those impressive performances, there was no place in the England squad for White, even though there has been a change in management.
- READ MORE: How Arsenal star Ben White really feels about representing England now Steve Holland is gone
Carl Jenkinson’s verdict on Ben White missing out on the England squad
White has been absent from England squads since he left the camp in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a reported falling out with the coaching staff.
Gareth Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland have since moved on, but even with interim manager Lee Carsley at the helm, there was still no place for the Arsenal star in the latest squad.
On that decision, former Arsenal icon Carl Jenkinson said on TalkSPORT: “I mean, Ben White is top, you’ll [Darren Bent] know as well as I do watching him every week.
“I don’t know, maybe there’s something more to that we’re unaware of, for me it doesn’t really make sense that he’s not in the squad at minimum.
“If you watch him every week for Arsenal, you can’t tell me that he’s not good enough to be in the England squad.”
On the decision, he continued: “I don’t really know the ins and outs of it, does anyone? You hear stuff in the media and the press about what happened but does anyone really know what conversations went on?”
Why does Ben White not want to play for England?
There is uncertainty over the exact reason why White doesn’t want to be involved in the England squad at this moment in time.
Reports from The Telegraph stated that the Arsenal defender left the camp in the 2022 World Cup due to a rift between himself and assistant manager Holland.
He was later left out of the Euro 2024 squad, with Southgate telling the media: “I didn’t speak to Ben White. As far as I am aware, he isn’t available to us.”
It appears as though that trend has continued into the interim management of Carsley, suggesting the situation is still rather nuanced.
It remains to be seen whether a fresh appointment could change the situation and allow White to make his return for the Three Lions.
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