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Mikel Arteta Breaks Silence: Why Arsenal Stars Pulled Out Of International Duty
Mikel Arteta has downplayed concerns over the number of Arsenal players withdrawing from international duty, insisting the club maintained strong communication with national teams during the recent break.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
A total of 228 players were called up across Premier League teams for World Cup qualifiers and friendlies in March 2026, with 23 eventually withdrawing—nearly half of whom were from Arsenal—sparking speculation about injuries or player management.
Arteta, however, rejected those claims, stating that all decisions were made for medical reasons and were fully communicated with the respective national teams, including England manager Thomas Tuchel.
He explained that Arsenal consistently maintains transparency and strong relationships with national team coaches, adding that the club always provides honest medical updates before any decision is made.
The withdrawals began following Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, after which several players ruled themselves out due to injuries. William Saliba withdrew from France duty with an ankle issue, while Gabriel Magalhães was sidelined with a knee problem.
They were later joined by players such as Eberechi Eze, Martin Ødegaard, Jurriën Timber, and Leandro Trossard, who had all missed the Wembley final due to injuries.
After reporting for international duty, additional players also withdrew, including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, both of whom picked up knocks. Noni Madueke suffered a knee injury, while Martín Zubimendi and Piero Hincapié also pulled out.
Despite the withdrawals, Arteta emphasised that players remain eager and proud to represent their countries when fit, and the club fully supports them doing so.
He added that Arsenal’s focus is now on the FA Cup quarter-final clash against Southampton, noting that the team must field its strongest possible lineup to compete for silverware.
Arteta confirmed that Eze will miss the match, while Ødegaard and Timber could return, and Madueke remains a doubt after avoiding a serious injury.
When asked how many of the withdrawn players might be available, he declined to give details, leaving speculation to the media.
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