{"id":580,"date":"2026-04-04T08:27:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T08:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=580"},"modified":"2026-04-04T08:27:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T08:27:20","slug":"mikel-arteta-gives-arsenal-injury-update-after-suspicious-england-withdrawals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=580","title":{"rendered":"Mikel Arteta gives Arsenal injury update after &#8216;suspicious&#8217; England withdrawals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_68255d\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">A total of 11 Arsenal players withdrew from their national teams last week, sparking a wave of criticism towards Mikel Arteta&#8217;s side ahead of their FA Cup tie against Southampton<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">14:00, 03 Apr 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 14:27, 03 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36940679\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Noni Madueke of England leaves the field through injury during the international friendly match between England and Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill\/Fantasista\/Getty Images)\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36940679.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_GettyImages-2268684506.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36940679.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/1_GettyImages-2268684506.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36940679.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/1_GettyImages-2268684506.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36940679.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_GettyImages-2268684506.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Noni Madueke came off during England's first friendly\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Noni Madueke came off during England&#8217;s first friendly<cite aria-label=\"Image: Chris Brunskill\/Fantasista\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Chris Brunskill\/Fantasista\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided a lengthy injury update after ELEVEN of his players pulled out of international duty. The Gunners have faced unrelenting criticism after a swarm of stars returned to North London early ahead of the run-in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, for example, only spent one full day at the England camp before it was confirmed that they&#8217;d return to Arsenal. Meanwhile, Noni Madueke suffered an injury in the first half of England&#8217;s 1-1 draw with Uruguay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The trio joined Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Tumber, Leandro Trossard, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hancapie and Martin Zubimendi in withdrawing from their respective countries&#8217; squads. Fortunately for Arsenal, Madueke&#8217;s injury isn&#8217;t as bad as first feared and he&#8217;ll only be out for &#8216;days&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It looked really bad and Noni was really worried,&#8221; Arteta told a press conference ahead of Saturday&#8217;s FA Cup quarter-final away to Southampton. &#8220;But no it is nowhere near that injury.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!<\/strong> <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mirrorfootballarsenal#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"\/><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_de167e\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres follows Cole Palmer and Kylian Mbappe with business move<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<article class=\"Teaser_teaser__XImzE OpinionTeaser_teaser-opinion__u0ZfS\" data-testid=\"opinion-teaser\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36964594\">\n<div class=\"Teaser_cover-wrapper__VVV7O\" data-testid=\"opinion-teaser-image\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36913347.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s540\/0_FBL-ENG-LCUP-ARSENAL-MAN-CITY.jpg 540w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36913347.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_FBL-ENG-LCUP-ARSENAL-MAN-CITY.jpg 650w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36913347.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s948\/0_FBL-ENG-LCUP-ARSENAL-MAN-CITY.jpg 948w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36913347.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_FBL-ENG-LCUP-ARSENAL-MAN-CITY.jpg\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><label data-testid=\"label\" class=\"Label_label__pFaDj Label_secondary__nOPjT label--section-color\"><span data-testid=\"label-text\" class=\"Label_text__tRLWj\">OPINION<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"OpinionTeaser_content-wrapper__TVVPL OpinionTeaser_large__m6_Lk\">\n<div data-testid=\"teaser-author\" class=\"TeaserAuthor_author__h_bIR TeaserAuthor_large__QjYde\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article2206564.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s338a\/john_cross.png\" alt=\"Author avatar\"\/><span class=\"TeaserAuthor_author-name__YmKL2\">John Cross<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, the Arsenal manager has confirmed that both Eze and Hincapie will miss the tie because of their injuries. In more positive news, Odegaard and Timber &#8211; who were both absent for Arsenal&#8217;s 2-0 loss against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final &#8211; could be in the squad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As for the rest, Arteta commented: &#8220;You will see, I will continue the speculation so you can do it. We are going to make the strongest line-ups and decisions to win every possible competition.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arteta was also coy when asked which goalkeeper would play after the Kepa Arrizabalaga&#8217;s mistake against City. &#8220;He&#8217;s under 32, speaks at least two languages and right footed,&#8221; the Gunners boss cheekily replied.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Who&#8217;ll go through &#8211; Southampton or Arsenal? Give us your prediction in the comments section.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36102852\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36102852\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.39\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"BILBAO, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 16: Piero Hincapie of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 League Phase MD1 match between Athletic Club and Arsenal FC at Estadio de San Mames on September 16, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by David Price\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36102852.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2235821333.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36102852.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2235821333.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36102852.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2235821333.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36102852.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2235821333.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Piero Hincapie has been ruled out this weekend\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Piero Hincapie has been ruled out this weekend<cite aria-label=\"Image: David Price\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: David Price\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted that the amount of Arsenal withdrawals looked &#8216;suspicious&#8217;. &#8220;Everyone can do the math and it&#8217;s a lot of players, of course,&#8221; Tuchel said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;During the situation, it looks a bit suspicious but I can only talk for our players. I still have 100 per cent trust in the honesty of Bukayo and Declan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We did medical tests. I saw them. I have no reason to believe that Declan is not honest with me. I have no reason to believe Bukayo is not honest. But given the amount of Arsenal players, I understand the look.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36909096\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36909096\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"London, United Kingdom - March 17: Eberechi Eze of Arsenal FC injured on the ground during the UEFA Champions League 2025\/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Arsenal Stadium on March 17, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Vince Mignott\/DeFodi Images\/DeFodi via Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36909096.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2266781975.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36909096.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2266781975.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36909096.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2266781975.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36909096.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2266781975.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Eberechi Eze also won't be available against Southampton \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Eberechi Eze also won&#8217;t be available against Southampton <cite aria-label=\"Image: Vince Mignott\/DeFodi Images\/DeFodi via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Vince Mignott\/DeFodi Images\/DeFodi via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In response, Arteta explained: &#8220;We have very good relationships with most of the national teams. Especially with Thomas and when you have to communicate the state of every player, that was clear what the conclusion was.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I think when a player is fit and available, they have to play. The players are desperate to play with the national team.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><em><a aria-label=\"Join our new WhatsApp communityLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Mirror Football<\/strong> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us &#8211; and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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