- Ten international withdrawals reported, including several Arsenal starters
- Rice and Saka return for assessment as Saliba and Gabriel join casualty list
- Crunch April: FA Cup, Champions League and a potential title decider ahead
So much for a quiet breather. The dreaded international break has taken a sizeable bite out of Arsenal’s momentum, with ten withdrawals across various national squads and several of Mikel Arteta’s mainstays heading back to London Colney for checks. The Gunners may have lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City, but they’re still chasing three trophies and, as it stands, holding a nine-point lead over City in the Premier League. It’s exactly the wrong time for knocks and niggles.
For those tracking form and fitness ahead of a colossal run of fixtures, you’ll find all the angles mirrored on the best football betting sites—but the headline for Arteta is simple: it’s squeaky-bum-time in March.
Injuries Pile Up For Arteta
England saw Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka withdraw after brief involvement, both returning to Arsenal for medical assessment. At the back, William Saliba (France) was ruled out with a left ankle issue, while partner Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil) reported right knee pain and was deemed unfit after scans. Jurrien Timber (Netherlands) has “not yet sufficiently recovered,” and Leandro Trossard (Belgium) stayed behind to continue rehabilitation. Elsewhere, there were further withdrawals across squads: Eberechi Eze (England) with a calf problem, Noni Madueke (England) after a brace-supported knee scare, Piero Hincapié (Ecuador) following tests in Madrid, and Martin Zubimendi (Spain) due to right-knee discomfort. It’s a long list, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
Who’s Still Standing And What’s Next
There was some action for Arsenal’s contingent: Ben White featured for England, while David Raya started for Spain, Kai Havertz turned out for Germany, and Gabriel Martinelli scored late for Brazil. Back home, Martin Ødegaard and others remain on the treatment table.
The schedule is ruthless. Arsenal resume with an FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton (Sat 4 April, 8pm), then head to Portugal for the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Sporting Lisbon (Tue 7 April). The league run-in kicks off with Bournemouth at home (Sat 11 April, 12:30) before the European return leg on Wed 15 April. Then comes the one circled in red: a blockbuster trip to Manchester City (Sun 19 April, 4:30pm). With bodies to patch up and decisions to make, Arteta’s margins are razor-thin. Get two or three of these key men back, and Arsenal’s season still has a real puncher’s chance.
Bio:
Football fanatic, you will often find me on the terraces at lower league matches on a Saturday afternoon. I leave the Premier League matches to the prawn sandwich brigade; grassroots football for me all the way.
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As the lead copywriter, it’s my job to turn my colleagues’ “messy notes” (sorry, guys!) into clear, engaging content. From bookmaker reviews to betting predictions, I make sure everything is polished, accurate, and easy to read
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