'It's a great shame' - Gareth Southgate reveals reason he snubbed Arsenal star in England squad

Arsenal defender Ben White has recently been left out the latest England squad to take on Brazil and Belgium by Gareth Southgate. The snub raised questions from Arsenal fans - but it may not have been entirely Southgate's decision.

According to a recent press conference, Southgate revealed that Arsenal's sporting director, Edu, called him to explain that White does not want to be 'considered for England squads at this time'. It seems that the former Middlesbrough head coach was not pleased by this revelation - he described White's absence as a 'great shame'.

Southgate said: "We had a call from Edu last week to say that Ben [White] didn't want to be considered for England squads at this time. It's a great shame."

Does Ben White belong in the England squad at this point?

Based purely on form, White is certainly playing at a high enough level to be selected for the England squad. While he would not necessarily end up in the starting XI, his adaptability and natural ability would make him a useful backup option across several positions.

Moreover, he has played a role in Arsenal's excellent season so far - the Gunners currently sit top of the Premier League table with a total of 64 points. White has been a near-constant fixture in their squad, having made 27 appearances this season, scoring two goals and notching up a pair of assists.

However, if White does not want to be in the squad, then there is little point in calling him up. Southgate will need a squad full of dedicated talents ahead of the 2024 Euros - anyone who is not 100% committed should not be considered ahead of lesser-known players who do want to be in the team.