Arsenal duo Eberechi Eze and William Saliba have withdrawn from international duties with England and France respectively due to injuries.
Defender William Saliba has been ruled out of France’s upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Colombia after suffering a recurring ankle problem. The centre-back completed the full 90 minutes at Wembley, but was later withdrawn from international duty following confirmation from the French Football Federation that he requires treatment and at least 10 days of rest.
France head coach Didier Deschamps has turned to Maxence Lacroix as a replacement, handing the Crystal Palace defender his first senior call-up after an ever-present domestic campaign. Lacroix is set to join the squad at Clairefontaine as Les Bleus prepare for their fixtures in the United States later this month.
Saliba’s absence compounds a frustrating period for Arsenal, who are also dealing with the loss of midfielder Eberechi Eze. The 27-year-old has withdrawn from England’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan due to a calf injury sustained in the lead-up to the final.
Eze, who had recently rediscovered form and earned inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, was unable to feature at Wembley and now faces a period of uncertainty. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the club will need up to a week before determining the severity of the injury, with further scans scheduled.
“We have to do another scan in six or seven days and wait to see the results,” Arteta said, offering little clarity on how long the midfielder could be sidelined.
Reports suggest Harvey Barnes is being considered as a potential replacement for Eze in the England squad, though no official confirmation has yet been made.
The double setback comes at a critical stage of the season for Arsenal. Already missing several players for the cup final, Arteta’s side struggled to convert promising moments against City and were ultimately undone in the second half.
Beyond the immediate disappointment of that defeat, the injuries to Saliba and Eze present a fresh challenge as Arsenal balance their Premier League title push with ambitions in Europe. With the international break now interrupting momentum, the focus will shift to recovery timelines – and how quickly two of their influential figures can return for the decisive run-in.
