%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Fans of every club hope for the same thing during any international break and that is for all their players to return injury free. Given that this is two international windows squished together, all national teams playing up to four matches, the anxiety is even higher than usual. However, in early good news for Arsenal fans, there is one less key member of Mikel Arteta's team to worry about.
That is because, on Monday afternoon, the FA confirmed that five players have withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel's squad, with Declan Rice's name among them. Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Marcus Rashford are the others, replaced by James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White.
The statement says that this is "due to respective injury issues", while the rest of the squad will converge on St. George’s Park on Tuesday. There is still strong Arsenal interest in the England squad, with Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly ad Ezri Konsa all in contention to represent the Three Lions.
However, it seems sensible for Rice to withdraw. During the World Cup, the 27 year old revealed that he has been nursing a back issue since around Christmas, playing through pain as Arsenal won the Premier League title and reached a Champions League Final. Meantime, in the summer, Rice started seven of England's eight matches, as they claimed Bronze Medals in North America.
He has only missed four of the Three Lions' 48 competitive fixtures since the start of 2022, a figure that will double in the next fortnight, so can't be accused of not taking international football seriously. Nevertheless, could Rice's withdrawal see Lewis-Skelly add to his six caps?
Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham are nailed on starters, with the teenager, the aforementioned James Garner and uncapped Alex Scott the options to start in a deeper role. Thus, considering how impressive he has been for Arsenal to start this season, and towards the end of the previous campaign, Tuchel will surely given Lewis-Skelly plenty of midfield minutes across these four matches.
First up on Saturday, he could be directly up against club team mates Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Merino, with Spain the visitors to Wembley; David Raya will likely be scandalously watching from the bench. What we know for certain is that Rice won't be involved, perhaps tuning into ITV1 like millions others.
England's September/October UEFA Nations League fixtures
- Saturday 26 September. Kick off 7:45pm. England vs Spain. Wembley.
- Tuesday 29 September. Kick off 7:45pm. Czech Republic vs England. Fortuna Arena, Prague.
- Saturday 3 October. Kick off 5pm. Croatia vs England. Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka.
- Tuesday 6 October. Kick off 7:45pm. England vs Czech Republic. Wembley.
Add us as a preferred source on Google