{"id":76,"date":"2026-03-31T06:14:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/2026\/03\/31\/arsenal-stars-should-be-banned-as-premier-league-told-to-make-new-rule-in-dramatic-rant\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T06:14:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:14:14","slug":"arsenal-stars-should-be-banned-as-premier-league-told-to-make-new-rule-in-dramatic-rant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=76","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal stars &#8216;should be banned&#8217; as Premier League told to make new rule in dramatic rant"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_548649\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal have had several players withdraw from their respective national teams during this month&#8217;s international break ahead of Premier League title run-in &#8211; and it&#8217;s caused quite the stir<\/h2>\n<p><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=\"36946272\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Arsenal players\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36946272.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Arsenal-v-Everton-Premier-League.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36946272.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Arsenal-v-Everton-Premier-League.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36946272.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Arsenal-v-Everton-Premier-League.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36946272.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Arsenal-v-Everton-Premier-League.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Several Arsenal players pulled out of international duty this month\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Several Arsenal players pulled out of international duty this month<cite aria-label=\"Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Arsenal FC via 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\">Gabby Agbonlahor believes some Arsenal players should be banned after 10 of them withdrew from international duty this month. The former Aston Villa striker\u2011turned\u2011pundit has argued that the Premier League should consider penalising players who pull out of representing their country to &#8216;benefit&#8217; their club.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal face a crucial few weeks in the title race, with Manchester City nine points behind Mikel Arteta&#8217;s side but holding a game in hand. Speaking about the withdrawal situation, an irked Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT: &#8220;If I was part of the Premier League and I was making a decision, I would bring in a new rule, you miss the next Premier League game available if you pull out of international duty.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I tell you something, players will stop pulling out. Playing for your country is an honour. If I&#8217;m Harry Kane, I&#8217;m speaking about this and saying, &#8216;Come on, guys, let&#8217;s not go back to what we were doing four or five years ago where players are pulling out non-stop.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_09d958\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Ben White gets green light to start vs Japan as Thomas Tuchel admits England concern<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_09d958\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Thomas Tuchel breaks down worrying Declan Rice issue as England boss makes World Cup admission<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I get it, Arteta is doing everything possible to win these trophies. Their next game after the international break is the FA Cup against Southampton.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I&#8217;m just not keen on players pulling out of international duty. It&#8217;s an honour to play for your country. It doesn&#8217;t sit right with me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">William Saliba was the first to withdraw from international duty, pulling out of the France squad after Arsenal&#8217;s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><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-36946275\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36946275\" 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=\"William Saliba\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36946275.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2184919754.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36946275.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2184919754.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36946275.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2184919754.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36946275.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2184919754.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"William Saliba has missed France's friendlies against Brazil and Colombia\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">William Saliba has missed France&#8217;s friendlies against Brazil and Colombia<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Eberechi Eze was then ruled out of England&#8217;s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard, both still managing injuries, also withdrew from the Netherlands and Norway squads respectively.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Leandro Trossard left the Belgium camp, while Martin Zubimendi withdrew from Spain&#8217;s squad and Piero Hincapie departed Ecuador&#8217;s to head back to England.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Noni Madueke, who suffered a knee injury during England&#8217;s 1-1 draw with Uruguay last Friday, was permitted to leave the squad. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were given the first week off to rest after Thomas Tuchel split his group across the two fixtures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It&#8217;s understood that after joining the rest of the squad at the Tottenham Hotspur Way training ground, they were also allowed to leave.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Tuchel has, however, defended Saka and Rice, insisting he has no reason to doubt their injuries as suspicions were raised about Arsenal&#8217;s large number of withdrawals. &#8220;I understand how it looks,&#8221; he said on Monday. &#8220;I still have 100% trust in the honesty of Declan and Bukayo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We ran medical tests, I saw them. I have no reason to believe either of them is being anything other than honest with me. But given the number of Arsenal players withdrawing, I understand the perception. They were desperate to be involved, just to get the narrative straight. But both were clearly in discomfort.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>England&#8217;s 2026 World Cup kits<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36905637.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Untitled-2jpeg.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-price-details__OpMC_\">\n<p>Various Prices<\/p>\n<p>England Official Store<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/england-fa-shop.sjv.io\/c\/344386\/852317\/11901?subId1=Mirror-football.london&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.englandstore.com%2Fen%2Fengland-national-team-football-kits-three-lions%2Ft-25619315%2Bd-9072656104%2Bc-340607%2Bz-9-3856279017\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">Buy Now on England Official Store<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer&#8217;s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: <!-- -->ENGFREEDEL<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><em><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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