Arsenal’s Ben White again booed by England fans as animosity continues

Ben White was notably booed by a section of England fans when being substituted on during Thursday’s Nations League clash at home to Croatia.

The Arsenal defender was similarly greeted by the Three Lions faithful in March, when he made his first appearance after an almost four-year squad exile.

White left the England squad midway through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for personal reasons. He did not play again during Gareth Southgate’s time in charge.

Thomas Tuchel is keen to reintegrate White, who was injured during the last international window, but restored to the squad ahead of this month’s Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain.

White conducted an interview earlier this week in which he said England’s supporters would not boo him if they knew the full story behind his abrupt exit from the World Cup.

But as he replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 78th minute, audible boos could again be heard from the stands.

On the decision to call up White after he was booed during March’s friendlies with Japan and Uruguay, Thomas Tuchel said he hoped England’s supporters could move on.

“We were not happy about this,” Tuchel said on the boos for White, who also missed out on a World Cup place due to injury.

“We could understand the disappointment of the fans, of course, with what had happened before. But I think this is expressed [by] now and should be a closed book.

“I think everyone could also see the investment of Ben and the quality of Ben and how he presented himself in the March camp. He did excellently, scored for us, and then committed a foul where we conceded a penalty.”

Tuchel continued: “When I speak to him, I always feel the hunger from him to come back. He missed the last camp. He is the standout position for Arsenal in a position where we struggle with injuries somehow.”