Arsenal duo of Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka have been called up to the England national team squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.
Gareth Southgate named the 25-man squad for the games against Italy in Naples on March 23 and Ukraine in Wembley on March 26.
Expectedly, Southgate did not extend invitation to Arsenal defender, Benjamin White despite his outstanding form this season with Arsenal in the Premier League.
Explaining the decision to drop the 25-year-old, the England boss says Ben White is behind Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, Newcastle United’s Kierian Trippier and Chelsea’s Reece James in the pecking order.
“With Ben… it’s similar with Ben and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] really, the three boys who are in as right full-backs we’ve got them just ahead of those two.
“We’re blessed in that position with the depth of talent. It’s the hardest position to pick, albeit it’s never straightforward criteria and it’s always shifting around a little bit on form as well.
“But Kyle [Walker] and Tripps [Trippier] were obviously the ones who played during the World Cup, started the games during the World Cup, have been consistent, and Reece coming back is another top player.
“We’ve love to have that depth in every position on the field.”
Here is the England squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Maddison (Leicester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United)
Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford).
