Following Arsenal’s loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, the Emirates Stadium faithful will have to wait until April 4 to watch Mikel Arteta’s men in action.
They travel down to Southampton to face the Championship outfit in the FA Cup before a trip to Portugal sees them lock horns with Sporting CP in the Champions League just days later.
Between now and then, though, all 20 Premier League sides have to contend with no action because of the March international break.
Bukayo Saka will represent England (in the second week), while David Raya and Martin Zubimendi are joining up with their compatriots. But who are the five players that have withdrawn from their duties?
Gabriel Magalhaes, Brazil
The Brazilian has, arguably, been Arsenal’s best player this term, defending with force at the back but also popping up in the opposing box with a goal when necessary – but he is among the notable international absentees.
Ahead of Brazil’s friendlies against France and Croatia, the Brazil Football Federation (CBF) said that he’ll not be linking up with his fellow countrymen, citing “pain in his right knee”.
They’ve also confirmed that imaging tests confirmed Gabriel’s injury. The centre-back played a full 90 minutes of his side’s recent 2-0 loss but he won’t be going on international duty this time around.
William Saliba, France
Another injury fear for Arteta will be that Gabriel’s partner in crime, William Saliba, has withdrawn from the France squad. Their statement said that he requires a “minimum rest period of 10 days”.
Didier Deschamps’ men are travelling across the pond to face Brazil and Colombia but they will have to do so without the 25-year-old, who played the entirety of Arsenal’s cup final defeat.
In his place, Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix has earned his first international call-up. While the news that Saliba is not injured, a break will give him the chance to work back to full fitness.
Eberechi Eze, England
Called up as part of Thomas Tuchel’s 35-strong squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, Eberechi Eze has been withdrawn because of a calf issue in uncertain times for the attacking midfielder.
Eze suffered that blow in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen and was, as a result, ruled out of the Wembley defeat.
The Gunners will now assess the severity of his issue. “We have to do another scan in six or seve days and wait to see the results. It’s his calf,” said Arteta post-City loss.
Replacing him in the Three Lions squad are Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes while Arsenal’s Ben White is also back in the picture after falling out with ex-England manager Gareth Southgate.
Jurrien Timber, Netherlands
Similarly to Eze, Jurrien Timber was another name ruled out of the Carabao Cup final against City – and the Dutchman’s absence was evident given Ben White struggled at right-back.
Timber has not played for the Gunners since limping off the Emirates Stadium turf against Everton in mid-March.
He had initially been named in the Netherlands squad as they prepare to face Norway and Ecuador – but Lutsharel Geertruida of Sunderland has since been named as his replacement.
Leandro Trossard, Belgium
The fifth and (potentially!) final Arsenal star to withdraw from international duty this March is Leandro Trossard, who started on the left of the Gunners front line against City.
The Belgian forward, 31 years of age, was taken off in the 82nd minute and made way for Gabriel Martinelli as a like-for-like replacement.
Set to join up with Rudi Garcia-managed Belgium to face the USMNT and Mexico, that is no longer the case for Trossard, who had missed Arsenal’s win at Everton before the cup final.
