Ben White was “very brave” to refuse to play for England after the World Cup 2022 because he did not want to abandon his country, Mikel Arteta claimed.
The Arsenal defender is no longer back to the three Lions team since leaving the Qatar camp after a fall -out at Assistent -Coach Steve Holland.
New coach Thomas Tuchel has announced that White, 27, is now available again for international selection when he fully recovers from the knee operation. Legend Stuart Pearce from England has condemned the potential memory with the text: “If they let you down once, they always abandon you.”
But with White contrary to returning to the Arsenal team to watch Chelsea tomorrow. Arteta said: “From what I understand the reasons, it was not about abandoning someone. He just told someone 'I do not want to disappoint you and this is the way I feel. I think it is very difficult for me to give you what you need'. So I think it was completely different.
“I can tell you because I was very involved at the moment that it happened and I know how am felt and that was very, very clearly the reason why he made that decision, how he felt about it and how he had a hard time.
“It was about only the situation to face and say:” I can't handle it now and I am not the best person to represent the country as I feel now. “
“I don't think many people would do it. What he did in my opinion was very brave and not many people would have done it. Whatever the outcome is, what I want is that Ben is happy and that he feels fulfilled.”
Bukayo Saka will then get up on an attempt to be fit for the quarterfinals of Arsenal's Champions League with Real Madrid next month.
The English star underwent a hamstring operation at the end of December after the injury in Crystal Palace and missed 18 games.
Arteta reported: “He is getting closer, he comes up and makes very good progress. So let's see when we start throwing him in with the team, how he responds and how he can get fit quickly.
“He will be here next week, hopefully more with the ball at his feet than he had. That means he passes the ball and shoot and run and everything. He has already done quite a bit on the field to work alone. Then we have to arrange it with people around him in a more competitive training session and see how he goes with it. “
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