Arsenal were without Eberechi Eze for their 2-0 loss against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, with the Gunners star having picked up a calf injury
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)
Eberechi Eze has pulled out of the England squad due to injury(Image: Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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Arsenal fear Eberechi Eze is facing an injury lay-off in another blow to their trophy hopes. The Gunners midfielder missed the Carabao Cup final because of a calf injury which will also keep him out of the England squad for the Wembley friendlies with Uruguay and Japan.
Eze will undergo a scan on the injury this week to discover the full extent of the problem but it is clearly worse than first feared from when he limped off against Bayer Leverkusen. There is a clear expectation that he will be out for two weeks but that is the length of the international break so he will not miss games in the next fortnight.
However, Arsenal have crunch games against Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final, the Champions League quarter-final with Sporting Lisbon and also crunch games in the title race with Bournemouth on April 11 and then at Manchester City on April 19.
Arsenal will be hoping he is back as quickly as possible but have yet to put a timescale on his return with the next scan likely to provide more precise detail.
But it is a major blow for Arsenal because Eze was getting into a good groove of form and performances after a stop-start season and he is also keen for game time to secure his World Cup place. Arsenal already have big injury worries with Mikel Merino potentially out for the season while Jurrien Timber missed the final and has withdrawn from the Holland squad.
Club captain Martin Odegaard has been missing with a knee injury but he was close to being fit before the final. There is a hope that Odegaard should be back after the international break which would be a huge boost for Mikel Arteta’s men. Odegaard has been struggling with a knee issue but that now appears to be clear and he should be fit to return for the run-in.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal applauds fans after the Carabao Cup Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on March 22, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Martin Odegaard is closing in on a return(Image: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Eze has been replaced in the England squad by Newcastle forward Harvey Barnes. Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Ben White has received his first call-up since 2022 to replace the injured Jarell Quansah. The Three Lions will face Uruguay on Friday before they welcome to Japan to the capital next Tuesday.
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