Kai Havertz of Germany reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Netherlands and Germany at Johan Cruijff Arena on Se...
Kai Havertz of Germany reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Netherlands and Germany at Johan Cruijff Arena on September 24, 2026 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
16 Arsenal players featured internationally, but the break once again proved unusually costly compared with the rest of the division.
Christos Tzolis of Greece falls after a challenge from Felix Nmecha of Germany during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Germany and Greece at WWK Arena on September 27, 2026 in Augsburg, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Christos Tzolis of Greece falls after a challenge from Felix Nmecha of Germany during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Germany and Greece at WWK Arena on September 27, 2026 in Augsburg, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
According to The Times, Arsenal suffered more injuries on international duty than any other Premier League club during the extended break, with six players picking up or carrying problems while away from north London.
16 Arsenal players featured for their countries, with Ezri Konsa, Kai Havertz, Christos Tzolis, Martin Odegaard, Piero Hincapie and Max Dowman all affected by injury issues during the window.
That total was higher than any other Premier League side.
Liverpool were next with four injuries from 17 players who featured internationally, while Manchester City, Manchester United and Sunderland each suffered three.
Havertz picked up a muscle injury during Germany’s first game of the break, while Tzolis suffered a hamstring problem with Greece.
Konsa withdrew from the England camp as a precaution after their third match, while Dowman sustained what has since been described as a minor contact injury with England Under-19s.
Martin Odegaard of Norway reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Wales and Norway at Cardiff City Stadium on October 01, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Martin Odegaard of Norway reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Wales and Norway at Cardiff City Stadium on October 01, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Odegaard suffered an ankle knock during Norway’s second game but subsequently returned, while Hincapie missed Ecuador’s entire international programme because of a muscle injury.
Arsenal also had two other players, in Declan Rice and Marli Salmon, withdraw before the first international match was played.
Liverpool’s four problems involved Jeremy Jacquet, who suffered a hamstring injury with France, Cody Gakpo, who sustained an ankle problem with the Netherlands, Milos Kerkez, who left the Hungary camp early with an undisclosed issue, and Alexander Isak, who picked up a minor injury with Sweden.
City also had 17 players involved internationally. Rayan Ait-Nouri was on Algeria’s bench for their opening match before withdrawing to recover, Nico O’Reilly suffered a muscle injury with England and Erling Haaland came off with fatigue for Norway.
CARDIFF, WALES - OCTOBER 01: Erling Haaland of Norway talks with teammate Martin Odegaard after the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Wales and Norway at Cardiff City Stadium on October 01, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - OCTOBER 01: Erling Haaland of Norway talks with teammate Martin Odegaard after the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Wales and Norway at Cardiff City Stadium on October 01, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
United’s three problems involved Patrick Dorgu, who suffered a suspected hamstring issue with Denmark, Bruno Fernandes, who had a niggle with Portugal before returning for the final two matches, and Noussair Mazraoui, who sustained an impact injury with Morocco.
Sunderland, despite having only 11 players involved internationally, also lost three to hamstring injuries. Habib Diarra was injured with Senegal, Brian Brobbey with the Netherlands and Dan Ballard with Northern Ireland.
Bournemouth, Brentford and Chelsea each had two reported problems, while Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Hull City, Leeds United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur each recorded one.
Fulham, Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest had no reported injuries among their international players.
With Premier League football now resuming, the task is to assess how many of those issues will have consequences beyond the international window.
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Club Injuries picked up Players and reported issues Players who played internationals
Arsenal 6 Ezri Konsa (precautionary withdrawal); Kai Havertz (muscle injury); Christos Tzolis (hamstring issue); Martin Odegaard (ankle knock); Piero Hincapié (muscle injury); Max Dowman (minor contact injury) 16
Liverpool 4 Jérémy Jacquet (hamstring injury); Cody Gakpo (ankle injury); Milos Kerkez (undisclosed issue); Alexander Isak (minor injury) 17
Manchester City 3 Rayan Aït-Nouri (unspecified issue); Nico O’Reilly (muscle injury); Erling Haaland (fatigue) 17
Manchester United 3 Patrick Dorgu (suspected hamstring issue); Bruno Fernandes (niggle); Noussair Mazraoui (impact injury) 16
Sunderland 3 Habib Diarra (hamstring injury); Brian Brobbey (hamstring injury); Dan Ballard (hamstring injury) 11
Bournemouth 2 Alex Scott (quad injury); David Brooks (undisclosed injury) 10
Brentford 2 Dango Ouattara (illness); Mikkel Damsgaard (ankle injury) 11
Chelsea 2 Mike Penders (muscle injury); Jamie Gittens (ankle injury) 11
Aston Villa 1 Zion Suzuki (rib injury) 9
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Yasin Ayari (illness) 10
Coventry City 1 Joel Latibeaudiere (undisclosed injury) 7
Crystal Palace 1 Anan Khalaili (thigh injury) 10
Everton 1 Vitalii Mykolenko (knock) 10
Hull City 1 Elliot Stroud (illness) 11
Leeds United 1 Jean-Mattéo Bahoya (undisclosed issue) 12
Newcastle United 1 Lewis Miley (unspecified issue, understood not to be serious) 8
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Jan Paul van Hecke (knock) 12
Fulham 0 None reported 12
Ipswich Town 0 None reported 9
Nottingham Forest 0 None reported 10
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Max Dowman of Arsenal during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium on August 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Max Dowman of Arsenal during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium on August 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)