Tuchel defends Ben White after more Wembley boos
Ben White was booed by sections of the Wembley crowd during England's 2-1 Nations League win over Croatia, and manager Thomas Tuchel has come to the defender's defence once again.
The jeers for White were not a one off. Sections of the England support have targeted the Arsenal full back on previous occasions on international duty, despite his consistent performances in a title chasing Arsenal side this season.
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England still got the job done at Wembley, with Harry Kane scoring the winner to help the Three Lions qualify for the Nations League quarter finals, but the reaction to White's involvement has again become a talking point after the match, according to the BBC Sport report on Tuchel's post match comments.
Why is White being targeted?
White has established himself as one of Mikel Arteta's most reliable defenders, operating as a right back who can tuck into midfield, and he has become a regular fixture for England under Tuchel despite the crowd reaction he continues to receive at Wembley.
The BBC's report does not detail the specific reasoning fans have given for booing White, but the pattern of treatment has now repeated itself across multiple England fixtures, prompting Tuchel to publicly back his player once more.
Arsenal context
White's club form has rarely been in question. He has been a mainstay of an Arsenal defence that has conceded sparingly this season, and his versatility, able to play as a traditional full back or step inside as an auxiliary midfielder, has been a key feature of Arteta's tactical setup.
The treatment he receives on England duty stands in contrast to his standing at club level, where he is widely regarded as a key figure in Arsenal's defensive structure. For a player who has had to battle through injury setbacks earlier in his Arsenal career to nail down a regular starting spot, the continued boos at international level represent an unusual wrinkle in an otherwise upward trajectory.
England's win over Croatia secured their place in the Nations League quarter finals, with Kane's goal the headline moment of the match. But the post match narrative has instead centred on the reception given to one of Arsenal's own, and on Tuchel's response to it.
Arsenal fans will hope the club form that has made White indispensable for Arteta continues to translate into recognition on the international stage, regardless of how Wembley crowds choose to react in the meantime.
