At a Glance:
- Ten Arsenal players have withdrawn from international duty over the last week.
- All of these players could be absent for the Southampton FA Cup tie this Saturday.
- Here’s how the Gunners could line up without these players.
Ten Arsenal players have withdrawn from international duty over the last week, meaning Mikel Arteta may have to field something of an unconventional eleven when his team takes on Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday night.
Initially, the Gunners withdrew five of their key players, taking a precautionary approach with those who were physically on the edge. Since then, a further five have left their national team camps, with the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka deemed too vulnerable to take part in friendly matches.
Inevitably, this cautious approach has been met with backlash, with many accusing Arsenal players of ‘faking’ injury issues to protect themselves ahead of the domestic run-in. However, Arteta and his medical staff will feel this is the sensible approach to take before such a crucial run of fixtures, and the international teams were likely supportive of these decisions.
How Arsenal could line-up against Southampton with ten absentees
If Arteta is looking to take no risks with those who were forced to withdraw, then none of them should be involved against Southampton. While the Gunners will, of course, be keen on reaching an FA Cup semi-final, they still have greater priorities.
With ten players absent, the Spaniard is down to the bare bones in his squad. Kepa Arrizabalaga made a catastrophic error in the Carabao Cup final in Arsenal’s last match, although the shot-stopper is likely to retain his place for this domestic cup encounter.
In the back four, Arsenal could be without all of Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Piero Hincapie. Due to absences in midfield, it’s possible that Arteta will call upon Myles Lewis-Skelly in the middle of the park, creating space for 16-year-old Marli Salmon to start at right-back.
Defender Piero Hincapie leaves the Ecuador camp and becomes the NINTH Arsenal player to withdraw from their international squad 👀🔴 pic.twitter.com/fir0RV6yhw
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 29, 2026
Salmon’s presence will shift Ben White to centre-back, with the English defender likely to be partnered with Cristhian Mosquera. Riccardo Calafiori is currently involved in crucial World Cup qualifiers with Italy, although Arteta will have little choice but to call upon the fragile left-back against Southampton, with Hincapie absent.
Alongside Lewis-Skelly in midfield, Christian Norgaard will return from the Danish camp and start. Kai Havertz is likely to have played twice for Germany over the international break, and thus, Arteta may want to protect the striker this weekend. That means Martin Odegaard, who is expected to be available, could come straight back into the side with Eberechi Eze out.
Similarly to Calafiori, Viktor Gyokeres will need a rest after playing in two World Cup qualification matches for his country. Unlike the Italian, Arteta will have the luxury of affording him this rest, with Gabriel Jesus spending the last ten days with his feet up.
The Brazilian will be deployed in the front three alongside his compatriot Gabriel Martinelli and teenager Max Dowman. Saka, Noni Madueke and Leandro Trossard could all be unavailable.
Arsenal XI vs Southampton without international withdrawers: Kepa; Salmon, White, Mosquera, Calafiori; Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard; Dowman, Jesus, Martinelli.
Piero Hincapie one of the only genuine Arsenal injury concerns
A number of those who have withdrawn from their national teams will likely be fine to feature for the Gunners in the coming weeks. Most of them will have left their countries’ camps for precautionary reasons, with the Arsenal medical team not deeming their involvement in friendlies as worth the risk of them missing more meaningful matches.
However, it’s understood that Hincapie’s situation may be slightly different. The left-back left Ecuador’s squad on Sunday, returning to London for ‘medical tests’, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Reports suggest that Hincapie was visibly in discomfort in the latter stages of Ecuador’s 1-1 draw against Morocco on Friday. He signalled to the bench that he needed to be replaced, but was cry-for-help was ultimately ignored by the South American team’s coaching staff.
The assumption from many was that Hincapie’s withdrawal aligns with the other precautionary Arsenal withdrawals, although journalist James Benge believes the Bayer Leverkusen loanee’s physical status appears a lot more ‘worrying’.
I don’t doubt there’s a few Arsenal players who’ve withdrawn from games they could have played. Generally think that’s just a smart decision from the player and federation.
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) March 29, 2026
This one, though, I’d dig out the clip if you can. It *looks* worrying for Hincapie. https://t.co/d2VZ05U0p0
If Hincapie does indeed miss a significant portion of the run-in due to this prospective injury, Arteta will have every right to vent his frustrations with the existence of this particularly inane international break.
