16 Arsenal players were called up for international duty over the March break, let’s have a look at how they’re all getting on.
MALAGA, SPAIN: Martin Odegaard of Norway gives the team instructions during the UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifying Round Group A match between Spain and Norway at La Rosaleda Stadium on March 25, 2023. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
The March international break is now underway, with 16 Arsenal players initially receiving a call-up from their countries.
Among them, Myles Lewis-Skelly received his first call-up from England, and Martin Odegaard returned to the Norway squad for the first time since his injury with the team in September.
Kieran Tierney also made a long-awaited comeback with Scotland, with his injury at Euro 2024 keeping him out of the September, October, and November breaks.
Scotland's Kieran Tierney passes the ball during the international friendly football match between Scotland and Finland, at Hampden Park in Glasgow, on June 7, 2024. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
There are some notable absentees, including injured quartet Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz. Loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga hasn’t been selected after his own injury problems this season, and Gabriel Martinelli has also been left out after recently returning to fitness.
The same is true for Ben White, who is reportedly back in contention for England minutes but just wasn’t quite back to full fitness for this one.
Jorginho continues to miss out for Italy, and Ethan Nwaneri has only stepped up to the England u21s this time, rather than making the jump straight to the first team.
Arsenal March international call-ups
Belgium's Leandro Trossard (L) fights for the ball with Netherlands' Jurrien Timber (R) during the UEFA Nations League football match between Belgium and Netherlands at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, on June 3, 2022. (Photo by JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo by JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Ukraine), David Raya and Mikel Merino (Spain), Gabriel Magalhaes (Brazil), William Saliba (France), Kieran Tierney (Scotland), Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly (England), Jurrien Timber (Netherlands), Jakub Kiwior (Poland), Riccardo Calafiori (Italy), Thomas Partey (Ghana), Martin Odegaard (Norway), Leandro Trossard (Belgium), Karl Hein (Estonia), and Nuno Tavares (Portugal) were all initially called up.
Tavares pulled out before Portugal’s first game due to injury, and Calafiori withdrew after Italy’s first match due to an injury setback of his own. Brazil’s Gabriel also pulled out after picking up a yellow card that sees him suspended for their second match.
Arsenal March international fixtures and results
Thursday, March 20th
Netherlands 2-2 Spain – Nations League quarter-final – Merino played 12 minutes and scored Spain’s late equaliser. Timber was absent from this match due to illness.
Croatia 2-0 France – Nations League quarter-final – Saliba played 90 minutes for France.
Italy 1-2 Germany – Nations League quarter-final – Calafiori completed the full 90 minutes for Italy but suffered an injury right at the end of the match that subsequently forced him to pull out of the international break.
Ukraine 3-1 Belgium – Nations League pro/rel play-off – Zinchenko played 90 minutes and provided an assist for Ukraine, Trossard played 80 minutes for Belgium.
Greece 0-1 Scotland – Nations League pro/rel play-off – Tierney came on as a substitute for 14 minutes for Scotland.
Friday, March 21st
Brazil 2-1 Colombia – World Cup qualifier – Gabriel played the full 90 minutes for Brazil but picked up a yellow card that earned him a suspension for their next game against Argentina. As a result, he pulled out of the international break.
Ghana 5-0 Chad – World Cup qualifier – Partey played 83 minutes for Ghana.
England 2-0 Albania – World Cup qualifier – Lewis-Skelly played 89 minutes for England, scoring a debut goal and winning the Player of the Match award. Rice played 82 minutes and provided an assist for England’s other goal.
Poland 1-0 Lithuania – World Cup qualifier – Kiwior played 90 minutes for Poland, helping them to a clean sheet.
Saturday, March 22nd
17:00 – Moldova vs Norway – World Cup qualifier
19:45 – Israel vs Estonia – World Cup qualifier
Sunday, March 23rd
17:00 – Scotland vs Greece – Nations League pro/rel play-off
19:45 – Spain vs Netherlands – Nations League quarter-final
19:45 – France vs Croatia – Nations League quarter-final
19:45 – Belgium vs Ukraine – Nations League pro/rel play-off
Monday, March 24th
19:00 – Madagascar vs Ghana – World Cup qualifier
19:45 – England vs Latvia – World Cup qualifier
19:45 – Poland vs Malta – World Cup qualifier
Tuesday, March 25th
17:00 – Moldova vs Estonia – World Cup qualifier
19:45 – Israel vs Norway – World Cup qualifier
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