Arsenal's injury woes have intensified ahead of their Premier League clash with Sunderland, with 11 players withdrawing from international duty during the recent break. Manager Mikel Arteta had expressed concerns before the international window, admitting he does not enjoy the period due to the risk of injuries to key players. The withdrawals began after Arsenal's Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, with William Saliba (ankle) and Jurriën Timber (groin) pulling out of their national squads.
Gabriel Magalhães, Leandro Trossard, and Eberechi Eze also withdrew due to various injuries, while captain Martin Ødegaard missed the cup final and subsequently pulled out of Norway's squad with a persistent knee issue. The situation worsened last Friday when Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapié both limped out of friendlies for England and Ecuador, with Madueke spotted wearing a knee brace. Both are expected to miss Saturday's FA Cup trip to Southampton, though Arsenal hope they can return soon.
Arteta's handling of player fitness has drawn comparisons to Sir Alex Ferguson's era at Manchester United, who famously limited his players' international minutes. Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice had genuine issues and wanted to play to avoid criticism, but their heavy workloads over recent seasons mean rest is crucial before the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting Lisbon. Martín Zubimendi became the 11th Arsenal player to withdraw, citing left knee pain, having played more Premier League minutes than any teammate this season.
