Arsenal head into their FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton on Saturday carrying one of the longest injury lists of the season, with as many as ten players returning from the international break with fitness concerns.
Mikel Arteta faces a tough test, knowing that a Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP follows just three days later.
The bulk of the concern centres on players who withdrew from international duty, some through precaution, others through injury picked up while away.
The number of withdrawals prompted questions about whether Arsenal leaned on their players to prioritise the club’s run-in, though Arteta brushed the narrative aside, insisting any fit player should represent their country.
The most straightforward update is on Eberechi Eze. The winger picked up a calf problem before the Carabao Cup final, missed that game, and has been ruled out of the Southampton tie as well.
His absence was felt at Wembley, where Arsenal lacked creativity from the attacking midfield role in their defeat to Manchester City.
“Ebs is out,” Arteta confirmed at his pre-match press conference, according to Connor Humm.
“With Ebs, I cannot put a finger there, because I don’t know, because he’s a special character.”
A return date remains unclear, though there is cautious optimism he could be available for the Premier League trip to Manchester City later this month.
Positive News
Noni Madueke’s situation is more encouraging than it initially appeared. The winger was substituted before half-time during England’s draw with Uruguay and was seen leaving the stadium in a knee brace, raising fears of a significant injury, given he had already missed six weeks earlier in the season with a separate knee problem. Scans, however, brought relief.
“It looked really bad, and Noni was really worried, especially after what happened in his other knee,” Arteta said. “But no, there’s nowhere near that injury, so that was really good news.”
Madueke is still expected to miss Southampton but should be available for the Sporting CP tie.
On Odegaard and Timber, Arteta was more cautious, saying both were “in contention to possibly be in the squad.”
The captain has been absent since February with a knee problem, and Norway boss Stale Solbakken has indicated a return to the Arsenal squad is within reach. Timber, who left the Everton match early with an ankle issue and missed the League Cup final, has also been pushing to feature.
Piero Hincapie was ruled out without much elaboration.
“Yeah, he’s out,” Arteta said.
The Ecuadorian left his country’s camp after playing against Morocco and is being assessed, with suggestions that the issue could be more serious than initially thought.
On Rice, Saka, Zubimendi, Gabriel, Saliba, and Trossard, Arteta offered nothing concrete. “You will see,” he said, leaving their involvement against Southampton open.
Saliba has been managing a recurring ankle issue, Gabriel withdrew from Brazil duty with knee pain, Trossard has a hip problem, and Zubimendi suffered a knee injury coming off the bench for Spain against Serbia.
Rice and Saka, meanwhile, withdrew from the England camp, with the former sent home after reporting discomfort and the latter believed to be purely precautionary.
