10 Arsenal stars miss international duty as Arteta prepares rotated Southampton XI

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Arsenal face a significant selection challenge ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton on Saturday, with ten players having returned early from international duty due to various fitness concerns.

The exodus began with Eberechi Eze, who suffered a calf injury before the Carabao Cup final that also ruled him out of England duty. According to Football London, Mikel Arteta was visibly concerned when discussing the midfielder’s condition after the Wembley showpiece, though there is now hope the issue may not be as severe as initially feared.

Martin Zubimendi has been carrying a knee problem throughout the season, evident during Spain training where he was pictured with heavy strapping. Despite making a substitute appearance for his country, the midfielder’s involvement against Southampton would be surprising given his workload this campaign.

Precautionary withdrawals dominate

William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard all pulled out of duty with France, Brazil and Belgium respectively, though these withdrawals are understood to be precautionary measures rather than serious injury concerns.

Gabriel’s situation relates back to an adductor injury sustained during a Brazil friendly in November, with this previous issue influencing the decision to withdraw him from international duty.

The most concerning cases involve Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapie. Madueke suffered a knee injury during England’s clash with Uruguay and was seen leaving the field with a knee brace, though initial fears have somewhat eased regarding the severity of his condition.

Rice and Saka rested

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were both sent back to the club by England’s medical staff after assessment deemed them too great a risk to feature during the international break. Neither player saw any minutes for their country, with the decision benefiting both club and country through rest rather than risking further issues.

Both players would be surprise inclusions against Southampton but could target next week’s Champions League first leg against Sporting CP for their return to action.

Martin Odegaard, who was not called up by Norway, is believed to be pushing for involvement against the Saints. Jurrien Timber, initially expected to join the Netherlands squad, remained at the club to continue his rehabilitation after missing the Carabao Cup final.

Rotated XI expected

With so many regular starters unavailable or being rested, Arteta is preparing an unorthodox lineup for the cup tie. Ben White, Christian Norgaard, Max Dowman, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori and Odegaard could all feature in what promises to be a heavily rotated side.

The situation highlights the delicate balance between club and international commitments, with Arsenal and the various national teams maintaining close communication to reach appropriate solutions for all parties involved.