Ben White speaks out on England exile and past decisions

Arsenal defender Ben White has stated that people do not know the full story behind his previous decision to make himself unavailable for England selection, while affirming that he would make the exact same choice again if given the chance.

White, now 29, originally left the Three Lions' camp during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to return home due to personal reasons. Following that incident, he remained unavailable for selection throughout the remainder of Gareth Southgate's tenure as manager.

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The situation shifted when he returned to the squad under Thomas Tuchel for upcoming fixtures, which included a dramatic appearance in March where he was booed by some supporters before scoring a goal and subsequently conceding a penalty in a 1-1 draw.

"I think as a person I am quite real and I think I made the decision that I would probably continue to make."

Ben White

When asked if he would have handled things differently with hindsight, White replied that he would not. He noted that although he was younger at the time, his authentic approach to decision-making meant he would stick by the choice, acknowledging it was not a happy situation but one that belongs in the past.