Arsenal's triumphant end to a 22-year Premier League title drought has come at a significant physical cost, with several key players now nursing injuries that could impact the 2026-27 season. The club's heroic efforts to secure the title have laid bare the need for a productive summer transfer window to ease the burden on Mikel Arteta's squad.
Eleven Arsenal Players Withdrew from International Duty
In March, eleven Arsenal players withdrew from international duty, and the reasons are now becoming clear. Over the past week, the extent of fitness issues managed by stars such as Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and William Saliba has been revealed. These players had been juggling injury problems during the business end of the campaign, and their sacrifices have now come with consequences.
Bukayo Saka, for instance, is not involved in every England training session. Despite being an undisputed starter for Thomas Tuchel, his fitness will need to be managed until the knockout stages at the earliest. Saka has been battling Achilles tendinopathy since March, having also suffered separate hip and hamstring injuries earlier in the season.
Rice and Saliba Also Struggling
Declan Rice, who has seen Saka's struggles first hand at club level, insists the cautious approach by Tuchel and England medical staff is the best way forward. The £105 million midfielder, forced off against Croatia, has been battling neural hamstring pain since Christmas. The problem is thought to have required injections, and it is clear that Rice needs a significant period of rest to fully heal.
Captain Martin Odegaard's knee pain "is only starting to ease," while William Saliba revealed on Saturday that he will have to play through back discomfort at the World Cup as he is still "not 100 per cent." All three nations have the quality to go deep in the tournament, which could come at a cost to Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
Community Shield Looms Just Four Weeks After World Cup Final
The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19, and just four weeks later, the Premier League champions are in Community Shield action against Manchester City in Cardiff. This puts Arsenal in an awkward position. If they have learned anything from Liverpool's disastrous summer transfer window in 2025, they will resist any temptation to make wholesale changes to their title-winning squad.
However, Arteta and co-chair Josh Kroenke have already made it clear that Arsenal will not be standing still. Collectively, they must hatch a plan to ease the burden on Saka, Rice, and Saliba—three players who made a combined 154 appearances for the club last term—without damaging squad harmony. Odegaard, who missed 27 games due to various injuries, could be one of several casualties.
Quadruple Bid Took Its Toll
There is no denying that Arsenal's unsuccessful Quadruple bid, which was still alive in late March before collapsing after defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, has weighed heavily upon Arteta's stars. Ending the gruelling 22-year wait for Premier League title glory was notably tough, but defending it, given the injury problems Arsenal players are currently experiencing, looks even more complex.
Sporting director Andrea Berta's recruitment will be key. Last summer he bolstered squad depth following a record transfer splurge; now, signing adequate cover and competition for Rice should be among his top priorities. Arsenal have already partially learned how to cope without Saka and Odegaard, but playing without Rice and Saliba while they rest up in the early part of next season is a daunting proposition they may have to come to terms with.
