England Takes A Risk By Rewarding Arsenal Dropouts
At least nine coaches were deprived of talent for the midseason break, and will be eager to know if players miraculously recovered from ailments that suddenly beset them.
ENFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 14: Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka of England talk in the gym at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 14, 2025 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) The FA via Getty Images The eyes of many international managers will be on Arsenal’s starting lineup versus Southampton this weekend. At least nine coaches were deprived of talent for the midseason break, and all will be eager to know whether the raft of players who pulled out of their squads have miraculously recovered from the ailments that suddenly beset them.
After a disappointing Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, a mysterious injury crisis has beset players at the Emirates. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka played the entire 90 minutes at Wembley, but then, with the prospect of returning to the stadium a few days later in the white of England, they withdrew from the squad. William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and Leandro Trossard also reported for duty with their national teams but quickly returned to North London.
Piero Hincapié, Martín Zubimendi, and Noni Madueke played their initial fixtures before returning; Jurriën Timber, Martin Ødegaard, and Eberechi Eze had existing injuries. Even the England manager, Thomas Tuchel, was aware that the situation with Rice and Saka appeared suspicious, given the crucial run-in and the apparent fitness of both before the England camp. “I understand the looks of it,” he told the media in response to questions about the pair.
“I still have 100% trust in the honesty of Declan and Bukayo. We did medical tests. I saw them.
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