- Arteta dismissed such claims, stressing that all decisions were based strictly on medical advice
- “We have strong relationships with national teams and always provide honest updates on our players’ conditions
- The withdrawals began after Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City
Mikel Arteta has played down concerns over the high number of Arsenal players who withdrew from international duty, maintaining that the club maintained clear communication with national teams during the recent break.
Eko Hot Blog reports that a total of 228 Premier League players were called up for World Cup qualifiers and friendlies in March 2026, with 23 later pulling out.
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Arsenal accounted for a significant portion of those withdrawals, prompting speculation about possible injury concerns or cautious management by the club.
However, Arteta dismissed such claims, stressing that all decisions were based strictly on medical advice and were communicated transparently to relevant football authorities, including Thomas Tuchel.
“We have strong relationships with national teams and always provide honest updates on our players’ conditions. Every withdrawal was based on medical evaluation,” he said.
The withdrawals began after Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City. Defender William Saliba opted out of France duty due to an ankle issue, while Gabriel Magalhães also withdrew with a knee problem.
Other players affected included Eberechi Eze, Martin Ødegaard, Jurriën Timber, and Leandro Trossard, all of whom missed the Wembley fixture due to injuries.
Further withdrawals followed after players joined their national teams, including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka with minor knocks, while Noni Madueke sustained a knee injury during a match against Uruguay. Martín Zubimendi and Piero Hincapié also pulled out.
Despite the withdrawals, Arteta emphasised that his players remain committed to representing their countries whenever fit.
“Players are always eager to play for their national teams, and we fully support that. It’s something we take pride in,” he said.
Focus now shifts to the FA Cup, where Arsenal will face Southampton in the quarter-finals.
Arteta confirmed that Eze will miss the match, while Ødegaard and Timber could return to action. Madueke remains a doubt, though his injury is not considered serious.
The Arsenal manager added that his priority is to field the strongest possible squad as the team pushes to compete on multiple fronts, noting the importance of the FA Cup in their season ambitions.
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