The international break was supposed to offer Arsenal a breather. Instead, it has turned into a rolling injury bulletin, with Mikel Arteta’s medical team working almost as hard as his midfield.
Ten Arsenal players called up by their countries have either withdrawn, returned early or skipped duty altogether, leaving the manager to piece together a heavily rotated side for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton.
This is not a club-versus-country tug of war. National associations have taken the lead on sending players back, with Arsenal and the federations in constant dialogue over what is safe and what is reckless. The decisions, though, have left Arteta facing a selection puzzle at a key point in the season.
Eze scare eases – with City away in sight
The first alarm sounded before the break had even begun. Eberechi Eze’s calf injury on the eve of the Carabao Cup final ruled him out of Wembley and out of England duty at St George’s Park. Arteta cut a worried figure after that defeat, clearly concerned the midfielder’s season might be derailed.
Since then, the mood has shifted. The damage is not thought to be as severe as first feared, and there is cautious optimism that Eze could be back in time for the trip to Manchester City on April 19. Arsenal will not rush him for Southampton; the Premier League and Europe sit higher on the priority list.
Odegaard and Timber eye timely returns
In Eze’s absence, the spotlight turns to Martin Odegaard. The captain stayed in north London during the break, not called up by Norway, and is pushing to be involved against Southampton. Arsenal would welcome his control and creativity in what is likely to be a much-changed XI.
Jurrien Timber is in a similar bracket. Initially expected to link up with the Netherlands squad, he missed the Carabao Cup final and remained at the club to continue his rehabilitation. The decision was made with the long term in mind. Timber is believed to be edging closer, and there is hope he could feature this weekend as he builds back towards full sharpness.
Saliba, Gabriel, Trossard pulled as precautions
The list of withdrawals grew quickly. William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard all pulled out of international duty with France, Brazil and Belgium respectively, but these were precautionary calls rather than full-blown emergencies.
Gabriel’s situation is the most delicate. He injured his adductor in a Brazil friendly in November, and that history weighed heavily in the latest decision. Nobody wants a repeat. Saliba and Trossard are in a similar category: minor issues, managed carefully, with an eye on the run-in rather than a couple of March fixtures.
Zubimendi’s heavy workload catches up
If there is a symbol of the physical strain on this Arsenal squad, it is Martin Zubimendi. The midfielder has logged more minutes this season than Jorginho and Thomas Partey have managed for their new clubs combined – over 1,500 minutes more than the pair together.
That load has left its mark. Zubimendi has been nursing a knee problem, his training with Spain notable for the heavy strapping wrapped around the joint. He still made a substitute appearance for his country, but has since returned to Arsenal. Given the volume of football he has played and the visible discomfort, it would be a surprise to see him risked against Southampton.
Madueke and Hincapie: serious scares, tempered outlook
Two cases caused genuine alarm during the break: Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapie.
Madueke suffered a knee injury playing for England against Uruguay and was later seen in a knee brace, a sight no manager wants to see. Initial fears pointed towards a lengthy lay-off. Those concerns have eased slightly after further assessment, and while the winger is still expected to miss matches, a major long-term absence would now be a surprise.
Hincapie’s issue came with Ecuador. He appeared to suffer a muscular problem and jogged off, another worrying moment for Arsenal’s staff watching from afar. Again, the expectation is that he will miss some games, but the club hopes this does not develop into something more serious.
Saka and Rice wrapped in cotton wool
Then came the headline duo. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice did not play a single minute for England during the break. After assessment by the national team’s medical staff, both were sent back to Arsenal with a clear verdict: too great a risk to use in friendlies, better served by rest.
The club will not gamble. Saka and Rice are central to everything Arsenal do, and both are unlikely to feature against Southampton. The more realistic target is the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP next week, though their progress will be monitored daily.
A very different Arsenal for Southampton
All of this points towards a heavily rotated side at the Emirates on Saturday. Ben White, Christian Norgaard, Max Dowman, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori and Odegaard are among those expected to form the spine of a much-changed XI against the Saints.
Arteta has spent the season talking about “next man up” mentality. Now he will see it in full. With a Cup semi-final on the line, a Champions League tie looming and a title race still alive, Arsenal’s depth is about to be tested as hard as their nerve.
