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Topics: Arsenal, Ben White, England, Gareth Southgate, Lee Carsley , Football
John McDougall
Topics: Arsenal, Ben White, England, Gareth Southgate, Lee Carsley , Football
Sol Campbell has waded into the debate surrounding Arsenal defender Ben White's England exile and what the next step should be.
The 26-year-old Gunners man has four caps for the Three Lions under his belt, which he won between 2021 and 2022 when Gareth Southgate was in charge.
Southgate stepped down as the national team's head coach this summer after England finished as runners-up for the second European Championships in a row following a 2-1 loss to Spain.
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White was last involved in an England camp during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but left the tournament for personal reasons midway through.
Earlier this year, Southgate revealed White had informed the England camp he no longer wished to be considered to be selected for the national team, though the now former Three Lions boss left the door open for a recall.
Lee Carsley is currently in interim charge of England after Southgate's departure, and has emerged victorious in both off his games in the dugout.
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England won Nations League encounters with 2-0 scorelines against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Of course, White was not a part of the most recent England squad following his self-imposed exile from the Three Lions set-up, and Carsley himself admitted White has asked not to be contacted and did not have plans to speak to the Arsenal man.
Campbell played for the Gunners across two spells and also collected 73 England caps between 1996 and 2007.
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The former Arsenal and Three Lions defender has given his view on White's England situation and has made it clear that he feels the former Leeds United and Brighton man ought to be reintegrated into the camp by some means, especially given there is new management.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Campbell said: "When I look at Ben White – how do you integrate him back into the fold? He is one of the best right backs in that position now, young, he’s playing really well, how do you get him back in?
"How do you bridge the gap with the fans? How do you patch that up? It’s like, 'What are you doing?' He is one of the best guys in that position. Yeah, they may already be winning, but White is playing top football."
He added: "Deep down, he’s a man that wants to play for England, but obviously something happened before. But with many things, if you allow things to drag on from the previous management to the new management – then that’s not the best way to do it.
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"Draw a line [under it], be a man and move on to the next, because he is a top player and you want the best players to play for England."