Sunday 29/March/2026 – 08:03 PM
Lives the Spanish Mikel Arteta, coach of the team ArsenalA real nightmare during the current international break, after the list of players departing from their national teams turned into a mini-hospital, and the London club received a new painful blow with the announcement of the exclusion of Martin Zubimendi from the Spain national team camp, becoming the tenth player to depart from his international commitments due to injury.
Zobimendi and Hincapie…the latest victims of the suspension
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced that Martin Zobimendi had left the national team camp before the friendly match against Egypt, explaining that the midfielder was suffering from pain in his right knee, and it was decided to return to his club as a precautionary measure to avoid worsening the injury.
Barely hours had passed since Zobimendi’s shock, until the Ecuadorian national team announced, on Sunday, the exclusion of defender Piero Hincapie before facing the Netherlands. Despite his participation for 72 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Morocco on Friday, medical examinations proved that Hincapie needed to return to his club to begin a recovery program from an injury whose details were not revealed.
A triple strike for the Three Lions and Arteta
The English capital, London, witnessed a difficult Saturday night, after the England national team announced that the duo, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, had left the camp before the friendly match with Japan, returning to Arsenal for a comprehensive medical evaluation.
This decision came hours after the worrying injury suffered by Arsenal winger Noni Madueke during the match between England and Uruguay at Wembley Stadium. Madueke collapsed in the 38th minute following a strong collision with Rodrigo Aguirre. Despite trying to complete the play, he fell again and was replaced by Jarrod Bowen. Madueke was seen limping in the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms, before leaving the media area wearing a medical brace on his left knee.
England coach Thomas Tuchel commented on Madueke’s injury: I am upset and very sad. I hope the injury is not serious.
It is noteworthy that the list of English withdrawals from Arsenal began early with Eberechi Eze’s calf injury, which will keep him out of the field for at least a month.
The back three are on the list of early absences
Aside from match injuries, the beginning of the international break witnessed the withdrawal of Arsenal’s back three from their teams at once. They are: William Saliba, France, Gabriel Magallaes, Brazil, and Jurien Temper, Netherlands, along with Leandro Trossard, Belgium. Arsenal confirmed at the time that the quartet would remain in London to continue their treatment programs.
These ten absences are in addition to Arsenal’s main hospital, which includes captain Martin Odegaard, who has been absent since last February, and Mikel Merino, who is expected to be absent for months due to a foot injury.
A fiery schedule awaits Arsenal in April
These absences come at the worst possible time for coach Mikel Arteta, as Arsenal enters the month of April with a busy schedule and decisive matches in three different competitions.
The Gunners begin their journey on April 4 by facing Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, then fly to Lisbon to face Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on April 7.
On the local level in the Premier League, Arsenal will host Bournemouth on April 11, then play the second leg of the Champions League on April 15, before facing runner-up Manchester City in an anticipated match to determine the lead on April 19, and conclude the month by facing Newcastle on April 25.
