Arsenal have sparked anger after several key first-team stars withdrew from their respective international teams during the break ahead of their crucial Premier League run-in
10:10, 31 Mar 2026
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: (2ndL) Eberechi Eze celebrates scoring the 1st Arsenal goal with (L) William Saliba, (2ndL), (R) Bukayo Saka and (2ndR) Declan Rice 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, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Arsenal's star have been told they should face a ban(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
A former England star has told Arsenal some of their players should face a ban after 11 of them pulled out of international duty this month.
Ex-Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested the Premier League should consider punishing players who withdraw from representing their nation to 'benefit' their club. Arsenal are facing a pivotal period in the title race, with Manchester City trailing Mikel Arteta's side by nine points but possessing a game in hand.
Discussing the withdrawal situation, a frustrated Agbonlahor said on 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.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrate 2nd goal 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, England. (Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were two of three Arsenal players to leave the England camp(Image: Nigel French/Allstar, Getty Images)
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
"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."
Paris, France - November 13:William Saliba of France looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between France and Ukraine at Parc des Princes on November 13, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
View 3 Images
William Saliba was the first Arsenal player to leave international duty(Image: DeFodi Images, DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
William Saliba was the first to withdraw from international duty, pulling out of the France squad after Arsenal's Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City. Eberechi Eze was subsequently ruled out of England's friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard, both still nursing injuries, also pulled out from the Netherlands and Norway squads respectively.
Leandro Trossard exited the Belgium camp, while Martin Zubimendi withdrew from Spain's squad and Piero Hincapie left Ecuador's to return to England. Gabriel also withdrew from the Brazil camp.
Noni Madueke, who sustained an injury during England's 1-1 stalemate 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 fixtures.
Article continues below
It's believed that after joining the rest of the squad at the Tottenham Hotspur Way training ground, they were also allowed to depart.
However, Tuchel has defended Saka and Rice, asserting he has no reason to question their injuries amid suspicions over Arsenal's high number of pull-outs. "I understand how it looks," he acknowledged 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."