Arsenal's International Withdrawals: Medical Calls or Caution?

0:00On April 4th, Arsenal's top of the Premier League, but they made headlines with 11 players pulling out of international duty last month. That's out of just 23 total withdrawals across all 20 Premier League clubs during World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. Folks started wondering if it was an injury epidemic, or some smart caution from the gunners. Michele Arthetta shut that down quick, saying they've got solid relationships with most national teams, including England's Thomas Tuchel. He stressed they communicate every player's medical status honestly, and these were straight medical calls, no games. Speculation flew because key guys like Williams-Saliba, with an ankle issue, Gabriel's knee, and others like Martin Oedogard, Jury and Timber and Bukayo. Saka all set out with nox and strains, even after linking up with squads, more like Declan Rice and Leandro Trasard, withdrew. Arthetta praised his squads hunger to rep their countries, calling it a point of pride, to have so many called up. He said when players are fit, they go, and the club backs that fully.

1:03Now Arsenal heads to Southampton for the FA Cup quarter-final at APM-British summertime. EZ is out, but Oedogard and Timber could return. Madawake's knock looks minor. Arthetta's keeping cards close, focused on fielding the strongest lineup to chase every trophy.