Mikel Arteta has defended the withdrawal of 11 Arsenal players from international duty, insisting the decisions were based purely on medical assessments and transparent communication with national teams.
The Arsenal manager addressed growing scrutiny during the March international break, where a significant number of his first-team players pulled out of their respective national squads due to injury concerns. Several Arsenal key players, including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and William Saliba, were among those unable to participate after fitness issues emerged.
Speaking on the situation, Arteta emphasised Arsenal’s cooperation with international managers, including Thomas Tuchel, dismissing any suggestion of manipulation.
“We have very good relationship and communication with most of the national teams, certainly with Thomas Tuchel too.
We have been extremely supportive all the time, we are always honest and a medical decision had to be made.”
The withdrawals come amid what has been described as an injury crisis at the club, with up to 10–11 players ruled out of international fixtures during the break — the highest among Premier League teams.
The situation sparked debate across England and beyond, with some observers questioning whether clubs are increasingly influencing international availability during decisive stages of the season. However, Tuchel himself dismissed any conspiracy, confirming that affected players underwent medical checks and were deemed unfit to play.
For Arteta, the priority remains clear: protecting player welfare during a critical run-in. Arsenal are competing on multiple fronts, including a Premier League title chase, with the manager reiterating that all decisions were made in the best interest of the players’ health rather than competitive advantage.
With domestic and European fixtures looming, the focus now shifts to how quickly the sidelined players can recover, and whether Arsenal’s cautious approach will ultimately prove decisive in their pursuit of silverware.
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