England calls up Ben White, passes over Trent Alexander-Arnold

London – In a selection twist that instantly ignited debate across English football, new England head coach Thomas Tuchel has recalled Arsenal defender Ben White for this month’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, while leaving out Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

White, 28, was summoned after Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jarell Quansah withdrew injured, ending a two-year exile from the national set-up. The right-back’s last of four senior caps came in a 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast in March 2022, after which he left England’s World Cup camp in Qatar for what were officially described as personal reasons. Persistent reports subsequently suggested a rift with former coaching staff and a self-imposed unavailability for the remainder of Gareth Southgate’s tenure.

Tuchel, appointed in late 2024, has now offered White an olive branch despite the defender having started only five Premier League matches for Arsenal this season. The German coach will pair the Gunner with Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes—another injury replacement, stepping in for Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze—when the 35-man squad convenes ahead of Friday’s meeting with Uruguay at Wembley and next Tuesday’s trip to face Japan.

Barnes, 26, has scored 14 goals in all competitions for Newcastle this term and will hope to add to his solitary England appearance, earned in October 2020. Scotland had recently attempted to persuade the former West Bromwich Albion academy product to switch international allegiance ahead of their World Cup qualifying campaign.

The headline-grabbing decision, however, centres on the right-back berth. With Reece James sidelined, Tuchel opted for White over Alexander-Arnold, who has earned only one cap under the new regime. Questioned on whether the omission effectively ends Alexander-Arnold’s hopes of making England’s World Cup squad, Tuchel was adamant that the door remains ajar.

“No. I know that it is a tough decision for Trent, as it is, I guess, for Ollie Watkins at the moment, and for Luke Shaw,” the manager said. “These tough decisions come with the job.”

Tuchel praised the depth available at right-back and stressed that his choice was based on continuity with the group that performed well in September, October and November rather than any deficiency in Alexander-Arnold’s game.

“I know it’s a tough one, I know he’s a big name,” Tuchel continued. “I think that he’s a huge talent with a big career, but I feel like I know what Trent can give us and decided still to stick to the players who were in camp with us. It is more the evidence that we have that we were good… than it has anything to do with what Trent cannot offer. I know very well what Trent can offer us. I played many times against him and suffered, and suffered when he played against us with Liverpool. So, I know very well about his strengths.”

White’s reintegration and Alexander-Arnold’s surprise absence ensure that Tuchel’s first squad announcement of 2025 will be scrutinised long after the final whistle blows against Japan next week.