What is Arsenal's Mikel Arteta 'praying' for during international break?

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta only wants one thing to happen during the international break for his squad.

Well, here we are at the stage of the season that has been cruel to Arsenal over the years: the international break.

With the Gunners having to deal with their fair share of injuries this season - Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaad, Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White have all missed time - it is no wonder Arsenal have struggled to click thus far.

Now that the November international break is upon us - the last until next March (hallelujah!) - history suggests this is the time for Arsenal fans to cross their fingers, toes, and anything else they can think of regarding player health.

What is Arsenal's Mikel Arteta 'praying' for during international break?

It's been a sensible start to the break for Arsenal, who have seen the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard drop out of their respective international squads this month. Saka was forced off late on against Chelsea with an unspecified injury, Rice is dealing with a foot issue, while Odegaard has only just made his comeback after almost two months out.

Despite these withdrawals, the Gunners still have a litany of international stars in action over the next week or so, and Arteta is 'praying' for good fortune on the injury front.

"What I'm praying is that after the international break, we have the team fully physically equipped,” the Spaniard said via ESPN. “That they are available and that they are fit because it's been a nightmare for eight weeks. Doubt after doubt, issue after issue, not only with the ones that are not able to play but with the ones who are able to play only for certain moments and not able to play. So I'm just asking that, because the desire the team has and how much we want it there's no question. It's going to come. We just need that on our side to be more consistent."

Arsenal are already nine points behind leaders Liverpool having dropped points in three consecutive Premier League games. They need to put together a run before Christmas.

For a team that is only 11 games into the season, that isn't ideal, and getting more players injured on international duty would all but end Arsenal's title charge before it really had a chance to materialise.

With Odegaard back and the hope of getting Saka and Rice both 100 per cent fit over the coming weeks, the Gunners could position themselves to close the gap on Arne Slot's Reds.

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