Alan Shearer, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher all believe Arsenal defender Ben White should be part of England's World Cup 2022 squad.
The 25-year-old has massively impressed for the Gunners this season and is a major reason why Mikel Arteta's side sit top of the Premier League. Making the right-back position his own, White has made 18 appearances in all competitions and also has two assists.
Apart from Newcastle's Kieran Tripper, White is perhaps the most in-form right back in the country at the moment. But his involvement with England at Qatar is not a foregone conclusion as Gareth Southgate has a number of options to consider ahead of naming his 26-man World Cup squad on Thursday.
READ MORE: What time is the England World Cup squad announced on Thursday, November 10?
White, Tripper, Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and potentially Reece James if he recovers from a knee injury in time are all options at right back for England. So it will be interesting to see if White makes it on the plane to Qatar or stays at London Colney with Arteta and the rest of the Arsenal squad.
Premier League legend Alan Shearer believes White should go to Qatar and picked the Arsenal defender in his 26-man squad as part of his column for The Athletic. With Chelsea star Reece James missing out, Shearer said: "Having a 26-man squad feels like a luxury and definitely makes life easier for Gareth.
"Tournament football can be strange. Get a good start against Iran, pick up confidence in the other games, and the snowball effect comes into play, flattening weaknesses, and then in those circumstances, you never know, but I think the way his defence is shaping up — or rather the opposite — is where he'll be having trouble sleeping.
"It's not just about questionable fitness — it's about form, too. With Walker, it's fitness. With Harry Maguire, it's form and a lack of game time — one start in the league for Manchester United since August. It's form for Eric Dier, Luke Shaw, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Kieran Trippier must be one of the first defenders on the team sheet at the moment, while Ben White is full of belief at Arsenal, but there are some big calls to be made here."
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also believes White should be making the trip to Qatar with England. "I think the two that stand out are [James] Maddison and Ben White. Ben White, the form he has shown in the Arsenal team this season and the fact we have problems at right-back and a right-sided centre-back," Carragher said on Sky Sports Football's YouTube channel.
"If we play three at the back he's more of a right-sided centre-back than a wing-back. But he's got forward of late and created goals. He's a really cool and calm footballer, which makes him more suited to international football as well."
Gary Neville went one step further. He believes White should not only be on the plane but should go instead of Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Speaking after Liverpool's 2-1 win over Tottenham on Sunday, Neville said: "It's a really tough one because his [Alexander-Arnold's] brilliance going forward is out of this world, but we're talking about knockout football. How England are going to win or lose in the World Cup is going to come down to a moment, a mistake, or concentration. And at this moment in time, I can't see how Gareth could go into a knockout game of a World Cup playing Trent Alexander-Arnold.
"I want this player to be the greatest right-back of all time. He's got the ability to do that. But today, at times, again, he looked like he could cost Liverpool dearly. And he does rash things. In the World Cup, I think he's given away a penalty today. We saw some of those challenges today.
"In a World Cup, there would have been a penalty against him today. And in the second phase or a final, he's given a goal away, so I don't think Gareth will trust him in a knockout game, which means will he then take him? He's got four brilliant right-backs also potentially to go."
Neville added that White's versatility means he 'has to' go to Qatar alongside Trippier, James and Walker if the latter two are fit.
Southgate is expected to confirm his official England World Cup squad on Thursday, November 10, despite the deadline being three days later on November 13. football.london will be providing all of the major updates and developments coming out of the England camp on our website, meaning you won't miss a thing.
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