Bukayo Saka and England progressed to the World Cup quarterfinal but will therefore miss Arsenal's opening game
11:07, 06 Jul 2026
Bukayo Saka will continue at the World Cup with England and miss the start of pre-season with Arsenal
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Bukayo Saka will continue at the World Cup with England and miss the start of pre-season with Arsenal(Image: Martín Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka helped lead England to the last eight of the World Cup with his assist against Mexico. While it sent fans of the Three Lions into raptures, there is no doubt from within the walls of Arsenal that such sentiment would have been present, though with a little concern attached.
This was just Saka’s second start of the tournament as he continues to battle away with an Achilles problem. Declan Rice, meanwhile, is playing through considerable neural hamstring pain too, according to Thomas Tuchel, and both Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have been given plenty of game time.
With England’s progression, they will face Norway on Saturday evening at 10pm UK time. Martin Odegaard performed brilliantly as he helped his side knock out Brazil in one of the most historic moments in the nation’s sporting history.
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With the game due to take place on July 11, any Arsenal player eliminated will begin a three-week holiday period that will now eat into the club’s pre-season schedule. Arsenal’s opening game of their summer preparation is in Girona on August 1.
Were either Odegaard or Saka, Rice, Eze and Madueke to make it to the semi-finals, they would almost certainly miss the second pre-season game on August 5 in Dublin against Real Betis.
Without so many of the squad, Mikel Arteta will be encouraged to call up plenty of fringe and youth players to the side flying out to Spain and the Republic of Ireland. This is not out of the ordinary; however, youth players are often given chances to impress with the senior side in the summer.
It could also become a shop window for some other players who could yet leave the club. 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri has spent half a season on loan with Marseille, but his future remains undetermined despite signing a new deal in 2025.
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Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Ben White have also all been linked with moves away. While any new signings secured well ahead of next month could even make their unofficial debuts in their brand new Arsenal shirts.