Arsenal Duo Withdraw from England Squad for Japan Match
Thomas Tuchel has navigated the controversy surrounding the withdrawals of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka from the England squad by affirming his complete confidence in their honesty and integrity. The Arsenal players were unavailable for England's upcoming game against Japan on Tuesday.
The England head coach had given Rice and Saka rest last week, opting not to field them in the match at Wembley on Friday, alongside nine other players. His intention was to have all 11 rested players available for the subsequent game against Japan, also at Wembley, for which he planned to release a group of players.
Rice and Saka did report to the camp; Rice was seen training on the grass on Saturday, while Saka was working out in the gym. However, Tuchel stated that both continued to experience discomfort following their involvement with Arsenal in the match against Manchester City on the Sunday prior, leading to their withdrawal from the England squad.
Arsenal Players’ International Availability Affected by Injuries
Several other Arsenal players have also been unavailable for their national teams during the international window due to pre-existing injuries or have withdrawn shortly after being called up. Jurriën Timber, Martin Ødegaard, and Eberechi Eze fall into the former category, while William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, and Leandro Trossard are among those who withdrew after call-ups. Additionally, Piero Hincapié, Martín Zubimendi, and Noni Madueke have returned home after participating to some extent in their matches. Madueke sustained an injury during Ecuador's match against Uruguay.
Arsenal recently lost the Carabao Cup final but remain contenders for a treble, competing for the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup titles.
Tuchel Addresses Concerns Over Withdrawals
When questioned about the optics of Rice and Saka’s withdrawals, Tuchel acknowledged the perception but reiterated his trust in the players’ honesty.
“I understand the looks of it,” Tuchel said. “I still have 100% trust in the honesty of Declan and Bukayo. We did medical tests. I saw them. I have no reason to believe that either are not honest with me. But given the amount of Arsenal players, I understand the look.”
He explained that following the Carabao Cup final, there were known issues, and the players were undergoing treatment. Both Rice and Saka attended the camp, with Rice even participating in on-pitch training.
“They were in treatment. But they both came. Declan was even out on the pitch. He did not come and say: ‘Guys, I’m going home.’ I heard there were camps where players did not even show up with boots. Bukayo did sessions in the gym to really try. Declan had a session on the pitch with Jude [Bellingham, who is also not fully fit] and said it doesn’t feel right. Why would I take any risks?”
“They wanted desperately to be involved – just to get the narrative straight. But they were both clearly in discomfort.”
Details on Players’ Conditions and Withdrawals
Tuchel refrained from disclosing specific details about the injuries affecting Rice and Saka, citing Arsenal’s preference for privacy.
“Declan feels a discomfort since quite a while and he’s playing through it. He’s just now on the edge where he thinks: ‘Does this make sense, what I’m doing here, to push through with 70% and push myself and push myself?’ The same with Bukayo.”
Regarding other players, Tuchel reported that scans on Madueke’s knee showed slight improvement compared to the player’s subjective feeling, but he will remain sidelined for several days. Jude Bellingham will not participate in the match against Japan as he continues recovery from a hamstring injury. Jordan Henderson followed an individual indoor training program on Monday and is unlikely to play.
Martín Zubimendi withdrew from the Spain squad after playing the final 13 minutes of their 3-0 victory over Serbia on Friday, citing knee pain. The Spanish Football Federation stated the decision was made to avoid risks and protect the player’s health.
Concerns Over Fixture Congestion and Player Fatigue
Tuchel expressed concern about the relentless schedule faced by Premier League clubs and its potential impact on players’ fitness ahead of the World Cup.
“It is a threat [to England’s hopes],” he said. “Not the biggest one but it is a threat. Fatigue is just a fact. That’s why we did this camp as we have done – to give the ones who were heavily involved a break. I’m 100% convinced we will get the benefit from it – now against Japan and later.”
