Arsenal assess Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka amid mounting injury crisis
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces a mounting injury crisis ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup clash against Southampton after several key players, including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, withdrew from international duty.
The Gunners resume their domestic campaign following a bruising international break that has decimated their first-team squad.
Key English duo Rice and Saka have both returned to London for urgent medical assessments.
England duo spark fitness fears
The influential pair departed the national team camp early following discussions regarding their respective workloads.
National team manager Thomas Tuchel revealed that the former West Ham captain has been playing through significant discomfort in recent weeks.
“He feels a discomfort since quite a while, and he’s playing through it.”
“He is just now on the edge, where he thinks, ‘Does this make sense, what I’m doing here, to push through with 70 per cent fitness and push myself?'”
Arteta will be desperately hoping these high-profile withdrawals are merely precautionary measures.
Defining week for domestic ambitions
The North London club face a critical juncture in their season as they look to bounce back from recent Carabao Cup final heartbreak.
They must balance immediate domestic knockout commitments with a crucial Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP on 7 April.
To compound matters, Noni Madueke is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a worrying knee injury against Uruguay.
The winger sustained the damage following a heavy challenge and was subsequently seen departing Wembley wearing a protective brace on his left leg.
Defensive headaches multiply
The fitness concerns extend deep into the core of the Arsenal rearguard.
First-choice central defenders Gabriel and William Saliba were completely unavailable to represent their respective countries during this break.
Meanwhile, club captain Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, and Jurrien Timber are also managing ongoing fitness issues.
With their Premier League title bid resuming against Bournemouth on 11 April, Arsenal can ill afford to lose their star names for a prolonged period.
