Arsenal stars describe Ben White as new contract is announced on day of England snub – and it shows why he HAS to be in Gareth Southgate’s squad

Arsenal revealed that Ben White had signed a new long term deal with the club on Friday morning with a video that may have been making some subtle references to the England squad announcement being made later that day.

White, who has been a key member of Arsenal’s ever improving defence under Mikel Arteta, has put pen to paper on a new contract until 2028 with the option for an extra year.

The news came just hours before Gareth Southgate confirmed his squad for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.

White was nowhere to be seen in the squad with Southgate revealing that he ‘did not want to be considered’ amid reports of a falling out with his assistant Steve Holland.

White has been characterised by some as a difficult player to manage and that may well be why Arsenal chose to accompany his new contract with a clip of his team-mates describing him fondly.

The video begins with Jorginho admitting that it ‘takes a while to get to know him’.

Captain Martin Odegaard adds: ‘when you look at him from the outside you might think he’s someone who doesn’t care too much but he’s one of the guys who cares the most about the team, about his team-mates.’

‘He’s a proper team player, he trains so hard. He’s always there for you when you need him in a fight.’

Gabriel Martinelli goes on to say that ‘every team would love to have a Ben White in the team’.

The players are then asked to give words to describe White with Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Martinelli all replying ‘warrior’.

‘Unbelievable footballer, always smiling,’ responds Rice as both William Saliba and Gabriel label White ‘powerful’. 

It ends with England’s Aaron Ramsdale jokingly calling the defender a ‘plonker’ but adding that he is a person ‘that will do anything to win’.