"Yes I will reach out to him" - England boss Thomas Tuchel hoping to bring Arsenal star back into squad to end his international exile
New England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he harbors plans to reintegrate Arsenal defender Ben White into the national team squad. The versatile defender has spent the last two years in a self-imposed international exile following a reported row with former assistant manager Steve Holland.
Despite being a regular with the Arsenal squad under Mikel Arteta, it has become a norm to see England squad lists without Ben White. The 27-year-old right-back hasn'tplayed for his country since leaving their camp during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar following a falling-out with Holland.
Speaking after the draws for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers were conducted, Thomas Tuchel revealed that he intends to give all of his players a clean slate. He singled out the Arsenal man as one he will reach out to in January ahead of the start of the qualifiers in March. He said via Daily Mail:
"Yes I will reach out to him. It should be a clean start and a clear narrative. It starts from January."
Ben White has played only four times for The Three Lions in his career, with his debut coming back in 2021 under Gareth Southgate. He did, however, make himself unavailable for selection under the same manager after the Qatar World Cup row. He also did not make himself available for selection during Lee Carsley's stint as interim manager of the country earlier this year.
White is presently out injured, having undergone surgery to deal with a troublesome knee problem in November. The former Brighton & Hove Albion man has appeared 12 times for the Gunners this season and is a big miss for his side. With his quality, he will be a good addition to the Three Lions, as Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier are nearing the end of their careers.
Arsenal star set for return in Everton clash
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes is set to return to action for the Gunners when they face Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, December 14. The Brazilian defender has missed each of his side's last three games against Manchester United, Fulham, and AS Monaco through injury.
Defensive injury issues have threatened to derail Arsenal's season, with the likes of Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori, and Oleksandr Zinchenko all out injured. In Gabriel's absence, Mikel Arteta selected Jakub Kiwior to fill in at centre-back, and he helped the side to two wins and a draw in three games.
Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have formed one of the best central defensive partnerships in English football in recent years. The return of the Brazil international will be a welcome boost for the Gunners, who are aiming to return to winning ways in the league.