Could latest injury have cost Ben White his England shot?

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Ben White's absence from the current England squad has reopened the debate over whether injuries are quietly closing the door on his international career.

The Arsenal right-back is sidelined with a groin problem and was not included by Thomas Tuchel for the latest round of fixtures. His omission has been framed against the German's recent comments about Cole Palmer, who withdrew from international duty this week.

Tuchel described the Chelsea midfielder's withdrawal as "another missed opportunity", adding that Palmer "misses way too many camps with injuries".

Injuries keep interrupting White's international momentum

The 28-year-old missed the Champions League final with a serious knee issue, and while the current groin complaint is understood to be a shorter-term setback, the timing matters at national level.

As JustArsenal argue in an opinion piece by Dan Smith, four games in the space of 11 days would have handed White a substantial run of minutes to press his claim ahead of next summer's World Cup in North America.

England used four different players at right-back at the last World Cup, which underlines how open that area of the squad has been. A fully fit White, coming off a run-in in which he featured regularly for the champions, would have had a realistic case for inclusion.

From Arsenal's perspective, the international break serves a different purpose. The UEFA Nations League fixtures give White a three-week window to rest and recover before club football resumes.

A complicated England history

White's relationship with the national team has been unusual for some time. He returned home early from Qatar 2022 and subsequently made himself unavailable for selection under Gareth Southgate, never publicly explaining the reasons behind that decision.

Theories have circulated, from a reported disagreement with assistant Steve Holland to difficulties settling into the camp environment, but nothing has been confirmed by the player.

What is clear is that the current regime has been open to involving him again. The obstacle now is fitness rather than availability, and the question posed in the piece is whether Tuchel will keep waiting.

For Arsenal, the immediate concern is simpler. White's partnership with Bukayo Saka down the right has been one of the side's most established combinations, and the club will want him available consistently through a demanding autumn schedule.

The next England squad announcement will offer the clearest indication of where he stands in Tuchel's thinking ahead of the World Cup.