Arsenal’s preparations for the final stretch of a potentially historic season have been thrown into turmoil after Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice both departed the England international camp on Saturday for medical assessment, raising fresh fears about the Gunners’ physical condition heading into the run-in. The pair join a growing list of Arsenal players currently absent from international duty, bringing the total number of withdrawals from the squad to ten.
Saka and Rice had been held back from England’s first game of the break against Uruguay, with Tuchel managing their workloads carefully, before both reported concerns to the Three Lions’ medical staff and headed back to London Colney.
“Official: England has announced that Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka will return to Arsenal for medical assessment,” the FA confirmed. While neither injury has been characterised as serious at this stage, the mere sight of two of Mikel Arteta’s most important players returning to their club ahead of schedule underlines the precariousness of Arsenal’s current situation.
They are far from alone in that squad room. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber both missed the Carabao Cup final and have since withdrawn from France and the Netherlands respectively. Gabriel has a right knee problem that led to his withdrawal from Brazil’s squad, with the federation confirming discomfort was felt after his 90 minutes in the cup final loss to Manchester City.
Leandro Trossard has a hip complaint, Martin Odegaard a knee issue, and Eberechi Eze a six-week calf problem that will keep him out well beyond the international window. Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi joined the list on Sunday, completing an extraordinary ten-man withdrawal.
The conspiracy-theory corner of the internet will immediately flag this as mass manufactured withdrawals ahead of a decisive run-in, and Arteta is no stranger to being accused of protecting players during international breaks.
But the reality is more nuanced — Saliba and Gabriel have both dealt with fitness issues throughout the campaign, and a cautious approach during meaningless March friendlies, with the World Cup just months away, is entirely rational.
Arsenal’s next Premier League game is against Southampton, with the FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton coming on April 4 as well. Arteta will be desperate for his core players fit and fresh. The title race, with Arsenal nine points clear of Manchester City, remains very much alive — but only if those key players return unscathed.
