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Ben White has officially been called up to the England squad for their March international friendlies. He will join the squad for the first time since 2022, as the Three Lions face Uruguay and Japan in their final matches before the World Cup commences this summer.
It is safe to say this will shock many people. Despite being good enough to play for England, the Arsenal defender made himself unavailable for selection during the latter stages of Gareth Southgate's tenure. It meant he missed the European tournament in Germany in 2024, with his last appearance being the World Cup in Qatar.
Ben White is already under pressure from the England faithful
As much as this comes as a surprise, many feathers will be rustled by the news. Ben White's decision to make himself unavailable for international selection was met with backlash, and given the reactionary nature of the England fanbase, many will oppose what they will view as a U-turn.
Those who have never watched Ben White kick a ball will say he doesn't deserve a spot in the team. As hilarious as that is to say, some people genuinely believe it.
If we're being completely unbiased, Ben White won't start at right-back. That position is Reece James', and if the Chelsea captain is fit, nobody is taking it from him. However, every player needs backup, and James needs backup more than most, given his poor injury history.
Ben White has not played much for Arsenal this season. This is partly due to injury, but mostly due to Jurriën Timber being in immaculate form.
Arsenal fans have one wish for Ben White
From Arsenal's perspective, one wish stands out more than anything else: White, please do not get injured. That's the last thing we need in the thick of things.
White was given the nod in Arsenal's latest Carabao Cup outing. The less said about the general performance, the better. White did little to tarnish his reputation, though.
He was given a place in the starting XI due to Jurriën Timber's injury. It was up in the air about whether Timber would be cleared to play, but in the end, he wasn't, and White was asked to step into the position that was once his.
This is always a worry for Arsenal fans when players are called up, but we digress; it's great to be in an era again where Arsenal players are coveted for their national teams. It'll be awesome to see Ben White link up with his England teammates. Whether or not he plays is a different story, but he's at least in the conversation now for making the World Cup.