Mikel Arteta has insisted Arsenal are “fully supportive” of players representing their countries and defended the club’s relations with international managers following a spate of withdrawals.
Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka were unable to take part in either of England’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, while Noni Madueke was sent home with an injury picked up in the first game.
Defenders Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba pulled out of the Brazil and France squads respectively despite initial call-ups. Jurriën Timber was also left out for the Netherlands after missing the Gunners’ Carabao Cup Final defeat to Manchester City through injury.
Belgium deemed Leandro Trossard as unfit to feature despite playing 82 minutes against City while Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi took part for Ecuador and Spain respectively but were subsequently sent back to their clubs due to fitness problems.
Arsenal are competing on three fronts and seeking their first Premier League title in 22 years, leading to speculation in some quarters that there was something sinister behind a total of 10 players being unable to complete international fixtures over the past 10 days.
But Arteta said on Friday: “We have very good relationship and communication with most of the national teams — certainly with [England manager] Thomas [Tuchel] too.
“We have been extremely supportive all the time. When you have to communicate the state and the moment of every player, we are always honest. At the end there is a medical decision had to be made. That was clear what the conclusion was.
“When a player is fit and available to play for the national team, you have to play. It makes us so proud that we had that many players in the national team.
“Players are desperate to play for their national team. We know how important every time they are together is [what] time they spend in preparation means to them. We are fully supportive of that and when we can do it, we do it.”
Asked how many of the players could return for Saturday’s FA Cup quarterfinal against Southampton, Arteta said: “I continue the speculation that you can do it and judge it afterwards. ‘Did what I say was right or do I maybe have to change, delete and write something else?’
“We are in a position right now where we need to make the strongest line-up we possibly can to win every competition. We are two or three games away from the FA Cup and we know how important that competition is for us.”
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Arteta did confirm Madueke’s leg injury is not as bad as first feared — suggesting he may only be out for a few days — while Timber and captain Martin Odegaard may be available this weekend.
