Ben White said he wasn’t able to handle England at the time and that he felt he was not the right person to represent the country properly. A report quoting Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said White effectively told the setup, “I cannot handle it now” and that he did not think he could give England what it needed.

What he meant

  • The comments were tied to his decision to step away from England duty during Gareth Southgate’s tenure.
  • The explanation in the reporting suggests it was a personal and mental-wellbeing decision, not simply a footballing snub.
  • Southgate later said White had not wanted to be considered for squads “at this time,” while Tuchel has since brought him back into the England setup.

In plain English

White’s message was basically: “I’m not in the right place to do this properly right now.” That’s why the story became such a big talking point when he later returned to the England squad.

If you want, I can also give you the exact quote , the full backstory with Steve Holland , or a quick timeline.