Mikel Arteta emphasized that Arsenal is “fully supportive” of players representing their national teams. He defended the club’s relationships with international managers amid recent player withdrawals.
Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Bukayo Saka missed England’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, while Noni Madueke had to withdraw due to an injury sustained in the first match.
Additionally, defenders Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba also withdrew from the Brazil and France squads, respectively, despite being initially selected. Jurriën Timber was also ruled out of the Netherlands squad due to an injury that kept him out of the Gunners’ recent loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final.
Despite the situation, Belgium ruled Leandro Trossard unfit for selection, even though he played 82 minutes against City. Meanwhile, Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi participated for Ecuador and Spain before returning to their clubs due to fitness concerns.
As Arsenal pursues victories on three fronts and their first Premier League title in 22 years, there has been speculation surrounding the number of players who have had to withdraw from international duty over the past week.
However, Arteta assured on Friday: “We maintain strong relationships and communication with most national teams, including [England manager] Thomas [Tuchel].
“We have always been very supportive. It’s crucial for us to communicate the condition of each player honestly. Medical judgments are made based on these discussions. When a player is fit to play for their national team, it makes us proud to have them represent us.”
He continued, “Players are eager to participate for their national teams. We understand how significant their time together is for preparation. We’re fully supportive of it, and we do what we can when the opportunity arises.”
When asked about the potential return of players for Saturday’s FA Cup quarterfinal against Southampton, Arteta stated: “I prefer to leave the speculation for later. We will find the best lineup possible to secure victories in all competitions. We’re only a few games away from the FA Cup, which is very important for us.”
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Arteta confirmed Madueke’s leg injury is not as serious as initially thought, suggesting he could be back in a few days, while Timber and captain Martin Ødegaard might be available for the weekend’s match.