Saliba, Eze, Timber & Ødegaard: Arsenal latest injury news and return dates after EFL Cup final
Arsenal have seen three players pull out of international duty after their EFL Cup final defeat on Sunday.
Arsenal were dealt a major blow on Sunday as the first major trophy of the English domestic season went to Manchester City in the EFL Cup final at Wembley.
Both goals on the day were scored by Nico O’Reilly in a 2-0 defeat for the Gunners which ended their quadruple hopes and left Mikel Arteta licking his wounds as he prepares to get his side back on track over the international break. The north London outfit remain nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table but if City win their game in hand, the Gunners are just one fatal slip away from it all going down to their trip to the Etihad on 19 April.
Arsenal will hope to see first-team stars back from injury after the internationals, following the news that three Gunners players had dropped out of international duty in the aftermath of the final on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal trio withdraw from international duty as injury issues mount up
William Saliba: The Frenchman played all 90 minutes of the defeat at Wembley and did a good job to stifle the threat of Erling Haaland, arguably emerging as Arsenal’s best performer on the day. Less than two hours later, though, Saliba had dropped out of international duty and was replaced in the France squad by Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix.
A statement from the French Football Federation read: “William Saliba is unable to join the French national team's training camp, which begins this Monday, March 23. The Arsenal centre-back is suffering from recurring pain in his left ankle, requiring treatment and a minimum rest period of ten days.”
Saliba’s return date is currently unknown but Gunners fans will hope that his withdrawal was merely precautionary and the recommended ten-day rest period will be sufficient to see the 24-year-old back in action for Arsenal.
Eberechi Eze: A surprise absentee from the matchday squad in the cup final, Gunners fan Eze was seen looking dejected in the stands as he was unable to line up for his boyhood club in a final for the first time. He has since dropped out of the England squad for the March friendlies against Japan and Uruguay, too, and was replaced by Newcastle United’s Harvey Barnes in the extended 35-man squad.
Eze was forced off with a knock in the second half against Bayer Leverkusen last week but was not expected to miss the final on Sunday. Manager Arteta confirmed of Eze prior to kick-off: “We tried everything [to get him fit for the game], but unfortunately he [is] out.” Arteta later gave a concerning update on the player’s calf injury: "We have to do another scan in six or seven days and wait to see the results.”
Jurrien Timber: The third Gunners star to drop out late from international duty after the Carabao Cup final defeat was Netherlands international Timber, who limped off against Everton last weekend in the Premier League and was absent against both Leverkusen and City. The 24-year-old had initially been named in Ronald Koeman’s 26-man squad but it was confirmed that he had dropped out on Sunday. Arteta said of Timber and Martin Ødegaard before the game: “They couldn't make it, so I think they will still be a couple of weeks. Let's see after the international break if we have anybody back.”
Martin Ødegaard egaard and Mikel Merino remain on side-lines for Gunners
Martin Ødegaard: Gunners captain Ødegaard was not passed fit enough to lead his side out at a major final for the first time. The Norwegian has now missed the last seven matches with a knee issue in a stop-start season, which he will hope bursts back into life in the run-in if he is to return to action in “a couple of weeks”, as was suggested by Arteta.
The Arsenal boss had previously suggested that Ødegaard was not out of contention for the squad in the cup final, but it evidently came too soon and the 27-year-old will target a return after the international break.
Mikel Merino: Arsenal’s only long-term absentee over recent months, Merino suffered a foot injury against Manchester United in January, and it is unknown whether he will play again this season. The Spaniard recently underwent surgery on the “rare” and serious injury, which saw reports emerge of Arteta considering a Deadline Day move for Sandro Tonali as an emergency replacement.
“Well, I think the doctors were really happy [with] the way it went,” Arteta said recently. “Yeah, now it starts. Obviously, it's a long process. You're talking about bone healing, so you need to be patient. You respect the timings, and I'm sure Mikel is going to do everything that he possibly can to speed up the process. We're talking about months, whether it's three, four or five, we don't know.”