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Tattoos? Check. Earrings? Check. Designer clothes? Check. Trendy haircut? Check. Tan? Check.

If you’re into judging books by their cover then you’ve probably assumed the worst of Ben White.

On face value, he fits the stereotype of a modern footballer. Image first, football second - a player that appears to have little affinity for a sport that coughs up lucratively for his enviable lifestyle.

But White’s not one who pays much attention to conformity, perhaps that’s why he polarises opinion.

Family, wife and his beloved dogs - those are White’s priorities. But what’s wrong with that?

Yet, with all that said and to dispel one of the most prevalent myths about White’s persona, football is fundamental to the Arsenal defender’s being.

Of course it is. It is ridiculous to suggest otherwise.

As news of his decision to reject an England recall broke, those who believe they have the Arsenal defender pinned were provided with further ammunition to perpetuate their view that he is unpatriotic, self-centred and flashy.

Dig deeper, however, and you’ll discover the reality is rather different. Misunderstood. Generous. Unassuming. Focussed.

Here, Mail Sport will take you to the root of why the normalised impressions of White are wide of the mark.

From a frightening childhood illness that attacked his immune disorder, to being dumped by Southampton’s academy, to his undying devotion to Marcelo Bielsa’s tortuous ‘murderball’ methods, the 26-year-old’s journey has been plotted with hardships.

But, ultimately, it’s a story of success earned against the backdrop of shattering setbacks.

White wouldn’t expect you to break out the violins - but just an opportunity to hear him out.

‘He is the type of boy you can’t dislike,’ Chris Hughton, manager at Brighton when White broke first broke into the senior set-up, told Mail Sport.

‘The type of boy you want to see do well. A quiet lad. Very unassuming.

‘Occasionally you’ll get a young lad come into the changing room who is full of confidence.

‘But in my experience most aren’t. They don’t want to come across cocky.

‘This is Ben’s personality. For all the things I’ve heard about him recently, I don’t see that in him.

'I see someone focussed, someone not so comfortable in the limelight.’

The vibes are similar the deeper you delve. Fiercely loyal to those in his tight inner circle.

His friendship with relatively unknown former footballer Calaum Jahraldo-Martin, a former team-mate at Newport County, has stood the test of time, as has his bond with Kalvin Phillips following their time together at Leeds.

Once you’re in, you’re in and White will protect you to the hilt.

‘Ben wouldn’t show emotion to the outside world, but if you cross anyone he loves then he wouldn’t stand for it,’ said a source.

That unshakeable bond with loved ones, and an inherently insular personality, is often cited as a factor in the ongoing issues at international level.

The circumstances of his mysterious departure from England’s World Cup camp at Qatar 2022 have been thrust back into the spotlight following his controversial choice to turn down a recall for last month’s matches against Brazil and Belgium.

‘He is very quiet, not your typical footballer,’ explained an England insider.

‘He does like time to himself, while others may need the company. He is very close to his family.

'That is maybe why he doesn’t enjoy being away on camps for long periods.

‘He is a good guy, but not a conformist in terms of what a camp generally looks like.’

Prior to his selection for Qatar, Gareth Southgate, assistant Steve Holland and England technical director John McDermott discussed how White may adapt to being away from home for a long period and how he’d fit into the culture of the squad.

‘It was a concern, but it wasn’t enough of a concern to preclude his selection. But it was clear he wasn’t enjoying it,’ the insider added.

At the time, the FA explained the reasons for his departure as ‘personal’. But, in and around the England camp, there were several indications of a personality clash with Holland.

‘Steve gels well with some players, others he doesn’t,’ claimed a well-placed source.

'Steve doesn’t necessarily see his role to be friends with the players. In terms of relationship building, that is more Gareth’s responsibility.’

Southgate, in explaining White’s decision to reject a return to the fold last month, denied a fractious relationship with Holland was a factor in the defender’s continued exile.

Intriguingly, however, multiple sources have expressed contrasting reflections, amid claims the root of the issue is a verbal confrontation during a squad meeting at the team’s Al Wakrah base in Qatar during which White could not provide the answer to a question from Holland with regards to Arsenal’s season.

Verbals ensued, inflamed by the fact Kyle Walker was asked the same question with regards to Manchester City and answered immediately.

According to sources, the fact the incident transpired in front of the squad resulted in White feeling disrespected and on November 30 he flew home.

‘His relationship with Steve was a part of it, but there are other layers to it,’ added a source.

It remains to be seen whether White will consider a future return to England duty.

At 26, time is on his side. But, for now, there appears little hope of a reconciliation during the Southgate/Holland reign.

As things stand, White considers the chapter closed and would prefer people to respect his decision.

White’s emergence as the heir to Walker’s position as England’s first-choice right-back is extraordinary in itself given the setbacks he’s overcome.

In and out of hospital during early childhood owing to an immune disorder that left him with regular bouts of appendicitis, White eventually had his appendix removed at just seven years old.

But even as a frail and sickly child, White gravitated to football.

‘It was tough for him and his family but in many ways it made them closer,’ said a source.

It’s a theme that runs strongly through White’s meteoric rise - the unwavering love of father Barry, mother Carole, sister Ellie and wife Milly has helped him through the toughest of times.

To this day his nearest and dearest are generally within eyeshot. Both his parents attend every Arsenal home game, while mother Carole travels to away matches, too.

You can count on one hand how many matches Carole has missed since her son turned professional in 2016.

Indeed, the more you look into White’s background, the clearer it becomes just how the support of his family has helped him through the troughs.

Having joined Southampton’s academy as a promising centre-back he was released as a 16-year-old due to concerns over his lack of strength.

‘He was never the star pupil,’ explained an insider.

‘He was a centre-back shunted over to right-back at a time when full-backs didn’t have plenty of the ball.’

The disappointment hit hard but a frank mother and son conversation, during which White was asked whether he wanted to proceed with his dream ended in both deciding that the show would go on.

White was convinced he was good enough. Carole believed in her son.

Their faith was justified. Brighton’s then head of player recruitment Mark Anderson had designs on taking White across the south-coast having spotted him during a trial at the David Beckham SoccerDome in Greenwich.

There was competition - Aston Villa and Leicester were also circling - but Brighton offered White the opportunity to remain close to the family and he joined on youth terms in 2014 before turning professional two years later.

Finally, White was on the road to stardom. But doubts continued to linger.

As White took his fledgling steps in professional football, he found obstacles. Three in particular: two at 6ft 4ins, the other at 6ft 7ins.

‘Part of his development and why I didn’t play him so much was simply because of the timing,’ explained Hughton.

'I had two centre halves in Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk. I even had Dan Burn who was experienced, finding it difficult to get into the team.'

Yet for Hughton, the talent was never in question. The coach eulogises over White’s ability with the ball and his capacity to transmit those talents onto the training pitch.

Dunk, who has gone on to represent England, is said to have been particularly influential during the early days of White’s career, acting as mentor figure.