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The international break is often a period of breath-holding for Premier League managers, and Mikel Arteta is currently navigating a particularly crowded treatment room at London Colney.<\/p>\n
Following a series of withdrawals over the weekend<\/strong>Arsenal are now managing the fitness of several key starters, with the medical team working to ensure a competitive squad remains available for a defining April schedule.<\/p>\n The most immediate concern surrounds Noni Madueke. The winger, who has been a standout performer since his move from Chelsea, was forced off during England\u2019s Friday night fixture against Uruguay.<\/p>\n Following what has been described as a robust challenge, Madueke was later seen wearing a protective brace on his left knee.<\/p>\n While the FA confirmed he has returned to Arsenal<\/strong> with a knock, the sight of the winger limping through the mixed zone has led to a more cautious outlook on his immediate availability.<\/p>\n However, the news regarding other core members of the squad appears to lean more toward sensible workload management than long-term absence.<\/p>\n Both Declan Rice<\/strong> and Bukayo Saka<\/strong> have returned to the club for \u201cmedical assessment\u201d after withdrawing from the England<\/strong> camp ahead of their friendly with Japan.<\/p>\n Rice had previously admitted to feeling \u201cshattered\u201d following a relentless run of domestic fixtures, and his return\u2014alongside Saka\u2014is widely viewed as a precautionary measure.<\/p>\n MORE ON ARSENAL ON F365\u2026<\/strong> With an FA Cup tie against Southampton and a Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP<\/strong> on the horizon, Arsenal will be hopeful that this period of rest allows both players to feature in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n The defensive unit is also undergoing a period of recalibration. Both Gabriel and William Saliba played the full 90 minutes of the recent Carabao Cup final but have since been ruled out of their respective international fixtures.<\/p>\n Gabriel is managing \u201cpain in his right knee,\u201d while Saliba is dealing with a \u201crecurring pain in his left ankle\u201d that the French Football Federation suggests requires a \u201cminimum rest period of ten days.\u201d<\/p>\n If that timeline holds, Saliba should be in contention for a return just as the domestic season resumes.<\/p>\n While the absence of Eberechi Eze, who is facing around a month out with a calf injury, is a confirmed blow, there is growing optimism elsewhere.<\/p>\n Club captain Martin Odegaard is reportedly \u201cwithin reach\u201d of a return after a month on the sidelines with a knee injury, having focused his recovery on being fit for the April 4 trip to Southampton.<\/p>\n Similarly, Jurrien Timber and Leandro Trossard remained with the club over the break to continue their own rehabilitation, with both expected to be available for the upcoming FA Cup clash.<\/p>\n READ NEXT:\u00a0Ben White joins Three Lions legends among 10 stars booed by England fans<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n
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