Arsenal defender Ben White is giving any final hopes of World Cup dream alive after his performances for Arsenal helped them to the Champions League final
Ben White has looked a transformed player in recent weeks. The Arsenal full-back has stepped up in place of the injured Jurrien Timber, and despite fears over losing the Dutchman, White has been a force to be reckoned with.
Still not the level of the player from 2022/23 and 2023/24, White is nevertheless now producing some of his best football of the last two years. No doubt the return of Bukayo Saka has been of great significance to White, who understands the movement and thinking of his right-sided teammate.
It’s been a crazy 2026, when you consider the injuries, which were jeopardising his career and links to a summer exit, which may yet still materialise into something concrete. He returned to the England set up, was booed, pathetically, by his own supporters who knew only what had been fed to them by many who know little of what actually happened, while others demanded an explanation for his absence when he owes nobody anything.
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Now back playing week in and week out for Arsenal, in Lisbon, in Madrid, against Fulham, against Newcastle United in a fortnight, which has transformed the club’s season. Into the Champions League final and five points clear of their nearest Premier League rivals, Manchester City, with three games to play.
Speaking of England, however, it would be fair to say that White is now in a very strong position to put himself in contention for Tuchel’s World Cup squad. He wasn’t playing regularly when he earned his last call-up, but has since become the number one option for Mikel Arteta.
A benefit for Tuchel would be a consistent right-hand side. If it is to be Bukayo Saka, depending on his fitness, who is to be England’s right winger, then having his club teammate behind him will surely offer a connection that no other right-sided England full-back could offer.
He gets up the field, ranking in the top 6.1% of Premier League players in his position according to FotMob for big chances created per 90 at 0.4. Winning the ball in the final third 0.53 times per 90 (top 7.3%).
He’s not perfect and has made some mistakes; however, the more minutes he gets, the more he has found his rhythm, and no doubt Tuchel is being given plenty to consider for the summer tournament.
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