Gabby Agbonlahor has called for Arsenal players who withdrew from international duty to face bans, with 10 players pulling out this month including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard
08:49, 31 Mar 2026
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring the 1st Arsenal goal with Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium.
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Several Arsenal players have withdrawn from international duty over the last two weeks. (Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested that certain Arsenal players should face bans after 10 of them withdrew from international duty this month. The ex-Aston Villa forward, now a pundit, has urged the Premier League to consider sanctions for players who opt out of national team duties to 'benefit' their club.
Arsenal are entering a pivotal period in the title race, with Mikel Arteta's side nine points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, although Pep Guardiola's side have a game in hand.
Discussing the withdrawal situation, a disgruntled Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: "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.
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"I tell you something, players will stop pulling out. Playing for your country is an honour. If I'm Harry Kane, I'm speaking about this and saying, 'Come on, guys, let's not go back to what we were doing four or five years ago where players are pulling out non-stop.'
"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.
"I'm just not keen on players pulling out of international duty. It's an honour to play for your country. It doesn't sit right with me."
William Saliba was the first to withdraw from international duty, stepping down from the France squad following Arsenal's Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.
Eberechi Eze has been ruled out of England's friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard, both nursing injuries, have also pulled out from the Netherlands and Norway squads respectively.
Leandro Trossard has left the Belgium camp, while Martin Zubimendi has withdrawn from Spain's squad and Piero Hincapie has departed Ecuador's to return to England.
Noni Madueke, who sustained a knee injury during England's 1-1 draw with Uruguay last Friday, was allowed to leave the squad. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were given the first week off to recuperate after Thomas Tuchel divided his group across the two matches.
Eberechi Eze celebrates scoring the 1st Arsenal goal with William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
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William Saliba, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have all pulled out of international duty. (Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
It's understood that after joining the rest of the squad at the Tottenham Hotspur Way training ground, they were also permitted to depart.
However, Tuchel has defended Saka and Rice, saying he has no reason to question their injuries amid suspicions over Arsenal's high number of withdrawals. "I understand how it looks," he said on Monday. "I still have 100% trust in the honesty of Declan and Bukayo.
"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."
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