Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has backed Arsenal defender Ben White to be included in England 26 men’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar this November after injuries to Reece James and Kyle Walker.
Recce James was ruled on action for 8 weeks after picking a knee injury against AC Milan in the Champions League. While Kyle Walker has not been in action after he was injured in Manchester City’s 6-3 victory over Manchester United in the Manchester derby.
Ben White has been deployed as right back in all of Arsenal’s ten Premier League matches so far and he has fitted in well on the right so well. There have been calls for him to be included in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad as right back.
What did Kevin Campbell say?
Speaking on TalkSport, The Arsenal legend said:
“I would think that a versatile player like Ben White, who can play as a center-back in a two or a three and as a right-back, then I think he should be worth his weight in gold.
“That’s when you consider the injuries that have come up within that England squad.
“Ultimately, it’s down to the manager and if Gareth Southgate doesn’t fancy him, then I don’t see Ben White going to the World Cup.
“It’s all got to come down to the manager, if the manager fancies Ben White, then he’s playing at a very high level right now.
“He’s also playing for the league leaders which should be enough in my opinion.
“The manager should know what Ben White can and can’t do, so the only reason that he doesn’t go to Qatar is if he doesn’t fancy him as far as I’m concerned.”
Campbell also added that Bukayo Saka should be an automatic start for England at the World Cup.
“For me, I think he should start, but a lot of it depends on the formation that Gareth Southgate plays.
“We’ve seen him tinker with the formation, play three at the back, five across midfield with two up front. That doesn’t suit Saka as much because he isn’t a wing-back.
“Saka is a winger, a wide man, a wide forward, and where he operates best is on the right-hand side where he can cut in on his left foot.
“Or we’ve seen moments where he goes on the outside.
“Against Bodo/Glimt we saw go down the outside and his goal against Leeds with his so-called weaker foot produced this devastating finish.
“So, he’s improving which is always a good thing when you’re coming into a World Cup.”
Saka has scored 5 goals and provided 4 assists in 14 appearances for Arsenal this season. The 21-year-old was voted the 8th best player under 21 years old in the recently ended Balon d’Or awards.
