Twelve Gunners advance, setting up a high-stakes knockout clash between Martin Odegaard’s Norway and the South American giants.
Twelve Arsenal players remain in the World Cup heading into the Round of 16, and Gabriel Martinelli produced the standout Gunners moment of the first knockout round.
All 15 Arsenal players made it through the group stage, but the Round of 32 saw that number trimmed. Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie have exited, leaving Brazil, Norway, France, England, Belgium and Spain still flying the Arsenal flag in the last 16.
The biggest Arsenal story came in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Japan. Martinelli came off the bench to score a dramatic 95th-minute winner, turning what had been a frustrating night for Brazil into another step towards the quarter-finals.
Gabriel also played his part. Japan had gone ahead through Kaishu Sano, but Casemiro levelled in the second half from Gabriel’s cross before Martinelli settled it late on after being played through by Bruno Guimaraes.
It was a major moment for Martinelli, who had been used more sparingly during the group stage. A player who had been waiting for his chance suddenly became the difference in a World Cup knockout tie.
Brazil: Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli
Brazil now face Norway in one of the most interesting Arsenal matchups of the Round of 16.
Gabriel has anchored Carlo Ancelotti’s defence throughout the tournament, and his assist for Casemiro against Japan underlined his impact at both ends of the pitch. Martinelli’s late winner has also shifted the mood around his World Cup.
Before facing Japan, Martinelli had seen limited minutes. Now, after scoring one of Brazil’s most important goals of the tournament, reports suggest he could be set for a starting role against Norway.
That sets up an intriguing Arsenal subplot, as Brazil now face Martin Odegaard’s Norway for a place in the quarter-finals.
Norway: Martin Odegaard
Odegaard’s Norway kept their own run going by beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in the Round of 32.
The win gave Norway their first ever World Cup knockout victory and set up a huge clash with Brazil. It also guarantees that at least one more Arsenal player will be heading home before the quarter-finals.
Odegaard sat out Norway’s final group game with qualification already secured, but now faces one of the biggest matches of his international career in the knockouts.
Brazil have the deeper squad and the weight of World Cup history, but Norway arrive with Erling Haaland, Odegaard and enough momentum to believe their run can continue.
France: William Saliba
That result ended Gyokeres’ World Cup, as the Arsenal striker struggled to break down a France side who looked much sharper once the knockouts began.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Bradley Barcola also found the net, while Saliba was part of a French defence that kept Sweden quiet for most of the night. Gyokeres did have a late effort, but his tournament ended at the Round of 32 stage.
France now meet Paraguay in the last 16. On paper, Didier Deschamps’ side are favourites, but Paraguay have already knocked one Arsenal player out of the tournament.
Germany: Kai Havertz
Havertz’s World Cup ended in heartbreak as Germany lost to Paraguay on penalties.
Germany drew 1-1 after extra time, with Havertz scoring the equaliser in normal time but missing in the shootout. It was a tough exit for a player who had already scored twice in the group stage and been one of Germany’s most effective attackers.
Germany were tipped to go further than the Round of 32, but Paraguay’s shootout win has set up their last-16 clash with France instead.
England: Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke
England remain Arsenal’s largest group at the World Cup.
Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke are all still involved after England came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1.
It was far from comfortable. DR Congo led for over an hour after Brian Cipenga’s early goal, before Harry Kane struck twice in the final 15 minutes to rescue England and set up a Round of 16 tie with Mexico.
That match will be played at the Azteca, where Mexico have already ended Hincapie’s World Cup. England will need to improve on their showing against DR Congo, but all four Arsenal players in Thomas Tuchel’s squad are still in the hunt for a quarter-final spot.
Ecuador: Piero Hincapie
The Arsenal defender had started every group game and was a key part of Ecuador’s run into the knockouts, but Mexico took control with first-half goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez.
Hincapie’s night finished badly, with Reuters reporting that he was shown a late red card as Ecuador’s frustration boiled over. Mexico now move on to face England, while Hincapie becomes one of the three Arsenal players already out.
Sweden: Viktor Gyokeres knocked out
Viktor Gyokeres’ World Cup is over after Sweden were beaten 3-0 by France in the Round of 32.
It was one of the direct Arsenal matchups of the first knockout round, with Gyokeres coming up against William Saliba’s France. Sweden had reached the knockouts from a difficult group, but France had too much quality once the game opened up.
Belgium: Leandro Trossard
Leandro Trossard is still alive in the tournament after Belgium’s dramatic 3-2 win over Senegal.
Belgium were 2-0 down with five minutes of normal time remaining, but Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans forced extra time before Tielemans completed the comeback with a penalty in the 125th minute.
Trossard had already caught the eye earlier in the tournament with two goals against New Zealand. Belgium’s Round of 32 win was much more chaotic, but it keeps them alive and sets up a last-16 clash with the United States.
Spain: Mikel Merino, David Raya and Martin Zubimendi
Spain’s Arsenal trio are also safely through after a convincing 3-0 win over Austria.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice, and Pedro Porro added the third as Spain delivered one of their best displays of the tournament. They kept another clean sheet and did not allow Austria a single shot on target.
David Raya and Martin Zubimendi are yet to play a single minute at the tournament, remaining on the bench throughout the group stage and Round of 32 fixture. Merino, however, has featured in every match, but has only started once, in Spain’s 1-0 group stage win over Uruguay.
Their next game is one of the standout fixtures of the Round of 16, with Spain facing Portugal for a place in the quarter-finals. For Raya, it is now hard to see a scenario in which he starts for Spain.
When Arsenal’s players play next
Saturday, July 4
Paraguay vs France: William Saliba
Sunday, July 5
Brazil: Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli vs Norway: Martin Odegaard
Mexico vs England: Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke
Monday, July 6
Portugal vs Spain: Mikel Merino, David Raya, Martin Zubimendi
United States vs Belgium: Leandro Trossard