Arsenal’s seasoned right-back Ben White returned to the England national team aiming for a fresh start. But his return became a night of mixed results. He showed flashes of quality but also made key errors. The reaction from fans sparked debate, but Mikel Arteta publicly backed his player.
Mikel Arteta backs Ben White after Wembley boos
England faced Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 28, marking a significant moment for the defender returning in Int’l football. White entered the match as a sub in the 69th minute and faced a rollercoaster of events.
Sofascore stats show he finished 86% of his passes and cleared the ball two times. However, White struggled defensively, losing both of his duels. He scored the first goal in the 81st minute. But he later gave up a stoppage-time penalty that led to a draw. Throughout his playing time, sections of the crowd loudly booed the player. These jeers from England fans likely stemmed from long-held anger about his sudden exit from the 2022 World Cup squad.
However, Mikel Arteta stated his views on this reaction during the presser held before Sunday’s FA Cup fixture. As per reports, he chose to ignore the downside and focused on the positive side of the player’s return. The manager jokingly said about the boos, “The volume was down, so I could not hear that.”He further noted, “I could just see the big smile on his face and the way he came back from the national team and the good things he was telling about everybody.”
He stated that the goal for any national team call-up is to have a player return happier and fitter. The Premier League manager clearly confirmed that this was the case for Ben White, signalling his satisfaction.
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A Long Road Back to the National Side
The defender had spent roughly four years away from the national team before this latest appearance. His exile began after he left the 2022 World Cup camp in Qatar due to personal reasons. Reports claim the heated dispute with Gareth Southgate’s assistant coach Steve Holland as the main factor.
Since that incident, he remained unavailable for selection throughout the rest of Southgate’s tenure. In March 2024, Southgate openly stated that White had asked not to be chosen for selection.
At the time, Arteta stood by this choice and saw the decision as a brave act of self-awareness. He said few would have the courage to admit they aren’t in the right headspace to represent their country.
However, current England coach Thomas Tuchel offered a different view on the crowd reaction last match. While expressing disappointment at the boos, he said the player must accept the situation as part of his journey. He advised that White needs to take it on the chin and focus on making progress for his country.
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Questions have also risen about if the negative experience during the international break has taken a toll on the player. He returned to club football for Arsenal against Southampton on April 5 in the FA Cup quarter-final.
During this match, he gave what reports described as a woeful performance. Statistically, White committed five fouls and lost the ball ten times, leading to a poor 5.6 Sofascore rating. His struggle was clear as he lost all of his six ground duels while recording just two clearances.
To top it all off, he made a critical error late in the first half. He misjudged a cross from James Bree, which allowed Ross Stewart to score the opening goal for the hosts. His struggles seemed to continue as he failed to provide his usual defensive stability or any offensive overlap.
Nevertheless, Arsenal suffered a shock exit from the FA Cup, and the troubles for the defender appear far from over. He faces a period of scrutiny at both club and international levels. Arteta remains a steadfast supporter. But the player faces a big challenge in reclaiming his best form and the support of fans.
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Souvik Bose
Souvik Bose is a junior football writer at Football Express, where he contributes articles focused on ongoing developments and discussions from the football world. His work involves covering news stories, key talking points, and the narratives that shape how fans engage with the sport. At Football Express, Souvik focuses on delivering football coverage that is timely, informative, and accessible to readers following the game closely. His writing reflects a deep interest in the evolving culture of football and the stories that emerge around the sport’s biggest moments.
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