Arsenal players during the September international break: What to look out for

Given that, after the international break, Arsenal's next three fixtures are against Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester City, all away from home in the space of eight days, supporters will want to keep a close eye over their star players this week, praying, possibly even a bit louder than usual, that everyone returns to London Colney fit and ready to go.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and Mikel Merino have all missed out on international call-ups due to injury, while Leandro Trossard was bizarrely not included in Belgium's squad, despite his excellent form. Nevertheless, a dozen Gunners are on international duty, so here's an extensive list of who they are and when they'll be in action.

England: Bukayo Saka & Declan Rice

• UEFA Nations League: Republic of Ireland vs England; Saturday 7 September, 5pm (BST).

• UEFA Nations League: England vs Finland; Tuesday 10 September, 7:45pm (BST).

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both started all seven matches as England reached the European Championship Final during the summer, accumulating 690 and 636 minutes respectively, and their importance is unlikely to diminish under new interim manager Lee Carsley.

The Three Lions face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, expecting a hostile atmosphere, and then Finland at Wembley three days later, commencing their push for promotion back to Nations League A, a feat they're highly-likely to achieve.

Rice and Saka will, almost certainly, start both fixtures, the former doing so against his former nation this weekend, a phrase one can't use too often. Meantime, Benjamin White continues to be excluded from England squads, while Raheem Sterling hasn't been called up since the World Cup.

France: William Saliba

• UEFA Nations League: France vs Italy; Friday 6 September, 7:45pm (BST).

• UEFA Nations League: France vs Belgium; Monday 9 September, 7:45pm (BST).

Prior to the start of the Euros, there was speculation that Didier Deschamps didn't particularly rate William Saliba and that he'd spend the tournament warming various benches across Germany. On the contrary, Saliba playing every minute of every game as les Blues reached the semi-finals.

Thus, expect the Arsenal superstar to keep his place alongside Dayot Upamecano, as France welcome Italy to Parc des Princes on Friday night, before neighbours Belgium visit Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Monday for two glamour fixtures.

Germany: Kai Havertz

• UEFA Nations League: Germany vs Hungary; Saturday 7 September, 7:45pm (BST).

• UEFA Nations League: Netherlands vs Germany; Tuesday 10 September, 7:45pm (BST).

Similarly, Kai Havertz turned out to be a pivotal player for the hosts during the Euros, starting all five games and scoring against both Scotland and Denmark. This took his tally to 18 international goals, which is 38% of all goals scored by players in the squad called-up by Julian Nagelsmann this month. Thus, Havertz will continue to lead the line as die Mannschaft take on both Hungary in Düsseldorf on Saturday and then fierce rivals Netherlands Johan Cruijff Arena three nights later.

Spain: David Raya

• UEFA Nations League: Serbia vs Spain; Thursday 5 September, 7:45pm (BST).

• UEFA Nations League: Switzerland vs Spain; Sunday 8 September, 7:45pm (BST).

David Raya became a European champion over the summer, although he did so largely as a back-up, his sole appearance during the tournament coming in a dead-rubber group game against Albania, keeping a clean sheet during a 1-0 win. This was just the 28 year olds sixth cap, and only his second in a competitive international.

However, with Luis de la Fuente's preferred number one Unai Simón currently sidelined for four months due to a wrist injury, now is Raya's chance to stake a claim. La Roja begin their UEFA Nations League title defence with two away matches this week, taking on Serbia at the Marakana and then Switzerland at Stadion Wankdorf, with Raya likely to be donning both the gloves and the number one shirt he's always dreamed of.

Norway: Martin Ødegaard

UEFA Nations League: Kazakhstan vs Norway; Friday 6 September, 3pm (BST).

UEFA Nations League: Norway vs Austria; Monday 9 September, 7:45pm (BST).

Unlike many of his teammates, Martin Ødegaard enjoyed an extended summer break albeit an unwanted one, as Norway's wait to feature at a first major tournament since 2000 goes on. On Friday, Ståle Solbakken's side will fly close to 3,000 miles, a journey that takes in excess of ten hours, to face Kazakhstan in Almaty, before returning to Oslo for the visit of Austria on Monday night. As captain, expect Ødegaard to rack up 90 minutes in both fixtures, having clocked up a fair few air miles too.

Italy: Riccardo Calafiori

UEFA Nations League: France vs Italy; Friday 6 September, 7:45pm (BST).

UEFA Nations League: Israel vs Italy; Monday 9 September, 7:45pm (BST).

Italy were largely dismal at this summer's Euros, meekly dumped out in the last 16 by Switzerland, as Luciano Spalletti's side won only once during a feeble title defence. One of very few Azzurri players to impress at the tournament was Riccardo Calafiori who, following an outstanding season with Bologna, joined Arsenal for €40 million in July.

Amazingly, the 22 year old only made his international debut during pre-Euros friendlies against Türkiye and Bosnia, but started all three group games, before sitting out the Swiss defeat suspended. Now though, Calafiori has quickly become one of the first names on the team sheet, a near-certainty to start against France in Paris and then Israel at Bozsik Aréna. Jorginho will not feature in these matches however, having not been called up.

Netherlands: Jurriën Timber

• UEFA Nations League: Netherlands vs Bosnia; Saturday 7 September, 7:45pm (BST).

• UEFA Nations League: Netherlands vs Germany; Tuesday 10 September, 7:45pm (BST).

Jurriën Timber might be the most quintessential 'like a new signing' in the history of football, having sat out almost the entirety of last season due to a cruciate ligament tear suffered on the opening day against Nottingham Forest. This time round, with another full pre-season under his belt, Timber has started two of Arsenal's Premier League matches so far, looking very sharp.

Thus, he has been recalled to the Netherlands squad by Ronald Koeman, so could feature for the national team for the first time since 24 March 2023, a gap of 534 days. The Oranje welcome Bosnia to Eindhoven and then Germany to Amsterdam, with Timber in line to make a long-awaited return.

Ukraine: Oleksandr Zinchenko

• UEFA Nations League: Ukraine vs Albania; Saturday 7 September, 7:45pm (BST).

• UEFA Nations League: Czechia vs Ukraine; Tuesday 10 September, 7:45pm (BST).

Due to the rise of Calafiori, Timber and others, Oleksandr Zinchenko's importance at Arsenal this season is expected to diminish, starting on the opening day against Wolves, but seeing only ten minutes of action across the two games subsequently. On the flip side, Zinchenko remains a key figure for Ukraine, expected to start both matches as Serhiy Rebrov's side takes on Albania and then Czechia.

Poland: Jakub Kiwior

• UEFA Nations League: Scotland vs Poland; Thursday 5 September, 7:45pm (BST).

• UEFA Nations League: Croatia vs Poland; Sunday 8 September, 7:45pm (BST).

Jakub Kiwior made 30 appearances for Arsenal last season, totalling 1,594 minutes, but is yet to set foot on the field so far in this campaign, having fallen down the defensive pecking order. Thus, it could be of real benefit to Mikel Arteta is Kiwior features prominently for his country and, given that he's played every minutes during each of Poland's last 17 outings, this is very likely. Kiwior is set to continue on the left side of Michał Probierz's back three, as the Eagles take on Scotland at Hampden and then Croatia in Osijek in two crunch fixtures this week.

Brazil: Gabriel

• CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying: Brazil vs Ecuador; Saturday 7 September, 2am (BST).

• CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying: Paraguay vs Brazil; Wednesday 11 September, 1:30am (BST).

Turning our attention away from Europe, only one of Arsenal's three Gabis has been called up by Brazil boss Dorival Júnior, namely Gabriel Magalhães, with Martinelli and Jesus left at home. 'Big Gabi' has only seven international caps to his name, seeing a miserly three minutes of action during the Copa América this summer, with Éder Militão and Marquinhos the preferred centre-back duo.

This week, having lost their last three World Cup qualifiers, the Seleção desperately need to get back to winning ways when they face Ecuador in Curitiba and then Paraguay in Asunción. It's far from ideal that Gabriel will be 6,4000 miles from London less than 106 hours prior to kick off in the North London derby, but at least he's like to only be suffering from travel fatigue, rather than that caused by playing.

Ghana: Thomas Partey

• Africa Cup of Nations qualifying: Ghana vs Angola; Thursday 5 September, 5pm (BST).

• Africa Cup of Nations qualifying: Niger vs Ghana; Monday 9 September, 4pm (BST).

Last, by by no means least, the player Arsenal supporters are most concerned will return from the international break injured, because he's certainly got some form in that regard, it's Thomas Partey. He has played every minute of every Premier League game so far this season, with Mikel Arteta seemingly choosing to pick the midfielder for as long as he remains available.

Furthermore, with Rice suspended for the upcoming trip to Tottenham, his club side really need him to be available for that one. Partey though could be in action twice for Ghana beforehand, with the Black Stars facing two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, welcoming Angola to Kumasi, before taking on Niger at a neutral venue in Berkane.

In the past, Arsenal have sent physio Simon Murphy to keep an eye on Partey during international breaks, possibly considering something equally drastic this week, considering his importance and how susceptible he has been to injuries.

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