Arsenal
Ødegaard absent for Arsenal vs Fulham as knee problems persist
Ødegaard misses Fulham with knee discomfort; fitness issues limit him to 15 Premier League starts…
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard was omitted from the starting line-up for the club’s meeting with Fulham after failing to recover from midweek discomfort. The Norway international was seen trudging off the pitch during the week and did not appear on Saturday, compounding concerns about his fitness.
When asked about Ødegaard’s availability before the game, Mikel Arteta offered only one brief response. “Let’s see,” was all the predictably cryptic Mikel Arteta offered when asked about Ødegaard’s involvement before the game.
Reports indicate the player withdrew against Atlético because of knee discomfort. That episode follows another knee problem that had already forced him to miss more than a month of action. This is the third knee injury of the season for Ødegaard; he also missed nearly two months across October and November. Whether those knee issues are linked has not been made public.
Overall, the captain has suffered seven injuries this season and has been limited to just 15 Premier League starts. Fifteen players have logged more minutes than Ødegaard for Arsenal this term. With the captain unavailable, Eberechi Eze took his place in the starting eleven for Saturday’s match.
Ødegaard contributed a lengthy matchday interview that offered little to suggest he expected to be sidelined. “Since the final whistle on Wednesday we’ve been looking forward to today’s game and concentrating on how we can get the three points,” he wrote.
“The energy is great at the training ground right now. I think everyone is feeling that we’re close to something really big and that gives you a bit of extra energy and extra fire every day in your work.
“We got a good result last weekend in our last game here at Emirates Stadium against Newcastle. It was an intense, tough game and the main thing was always to get the win and we managed that well. It’s always tough to play against Newcastle, they are a very physical and organised side. Obviously they have quality as well, so there’s going to be periods where they have the ball, but I thought we did well to get over the line and take another three points in a big game.”
Arsenal
Arsenal’s scouting focus at the 2026 World Cup
Arsenal’s summer scouting list: targets to monitor at the 2026 World Cup and their group stage tests
Arsenal arrive at the summer window determined not to rest after a season that ended in heartbreak. Mikel Arteta’s project enters its seventh year and the club will be watching the World Cup closely as they prepare for 2026/27.
Arteta values defensive versatility. That helps explain the interest in Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento. The Magpies are described as being in a selling mood as they reset under Eddie Howe. Livramento is an impressive athlete and is comfortable down both flanks. Group stage matches: Croatia (June 17), Ghana (June 23), Panama (June 27).
Speed and attacking threat from the fullback position are traits Arsenal prize. German international Nathaniel Brown has risen in prominence over the past 18 months and made his national-team debut last October. He is primarily a left-back who combines security in the build-up with genuine pace. Bayern Munich and Manchester City are also thought to be in the hunt. Group stage matches: Curaçao (June 14), Ivory Coast (June 20), Ecuador (June 25).
Maxi Araújo caught Arsenal’s eye during the Champions League quarterfinals against Sporting CP. The Uruguayan left-back likes to maraud upfield and make an impact in the final third. He is an energetic presence Marcelo Bielsa will count on in North America. Group stage matches: Saudi Arabia (June 15), Cabo Verde (June 21), Spain (June 26).
Midfield creativity and young potential are on the list. Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi has emerged as a sought-after teenage prospect. Arsenal have reportedly been rebuffed before the tournament, and his stock is likely to rise. Group stage matches: Brazil (June 23), Scotland (June 19), Haiti (June 24).
England and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is described as a priority target as Arsenal look to boost their creative options following last season’s title. Group stage matches: Croatia (June 17), Ghana (June 23), Panama (June 27).
Other names to monitor include Bradley Barcola, a PSG forward who has been part of Luis Enrique’s attacking quartet, Marcus Rashford, whose Barcelona loan situation left him potentially available, and Belgian Mika Godts, whose breakthrough with Ajax has attracted attention. Group stage matches: Bradley Barcola: Senegal (June 16), Iraq (June 22), Norway (June 26). Mika Godts: Egypt (June 15), Iran (June 21), New Zealand (June 27).
Arsenal’s recruitment will be measured but ambitious as the club looks to add players capable of taking them further in the coming season.
Arsenal
Forwards to Watch at the 2026 World Cup
Ten forwards to watch at the 2026 World Cup, judged on recent form, fitness and club contributions..
The 2026 World Cup will be defined in large part by attacking players who arrive with clear form lines and specific questions to answer. Several forwards in North America carry momentum from strong club seasons, while others bring a mix of fitness concerns and huge potential.
Bukayo Saka notched a remarkable campaign as Arsenal claimed Premier League glory, but he enters the tournament in mediocre form. The Englishman produced 18 goal involvements in 2025–26 as injuries robbed him of momentum at key junctures. The 24-year-old has blistering speed, gazelle-like agility and a wondrous left boot. If England is going to win its first World Cup for 60 years, Saka must deliver on the right wing. Three goals and an assist in Qatar four years ago is an encouraging sign.
Luis Díaz has been integral to Colombia’s hopes. The Bayern Munich winger enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign in Bavaria that ended with a domestic treble, contributing 26 goals and 19 assists across all competitions. The tenacious 29-year-old missed the last World Cup through injury, so this will be his first tournament and he will be determined to lead his nation.
Raphinha’s 2024–25 breakthrough into Ballon d’Or contention gave way to a quieter 2025–26 at Barcelona because of fitness issues. Still, 28 goal involvements in 33 matches is an impressive return. The 29-year-old returned from injury in May and, after six weeks of action, could be a useful and versatile option for Brazil as Carlo Ancelotti’s side pursue a sixth title.
Ousmane Dembélé remains one of the most flexible forwards available. He beat Raphinha to the 2025 Ballon d’Or and, despite a slight dip in output, operated effectively as a false nine during a Champions League-winning campaign with Paris Saint-Germain. Dembélé is likely to resume a right-wing role for France, where his two-footedness and clean ball striking will be valued.
Vinicius Junior emerged with credit from a difficult season for Real Madrid, producing 21 goal involvements in 2026 and two goals in pre-tournament friendlies for Brazil. Michael Olise, a Bayern Munich standout, arrived in form after a pre-tournament hat-trick against Northern Ireland and a season of 25 goals and 28 assists in Germany.
Erling Haaland carried Norway back to the World Cup with 16 goals in eight qualifying matches. The Manchester City striker’s ruthless efficiency will determine how far Norway go. Kylian Mbappé, needing four goals to match Miroslav Klose’s record, arrives having produced consecutive 43-goal campaigns for Real Madrid and will remain France’s primary attacking threat, supported by Dembélé and Olise.
Arsenal
Arsenal to Assess Saliba’s Back After World Cup as Surgery Remains an Option
Arsenal must decide Saliba’s back issue after the World Cup; surgery could delay 2026–27 start soon.
Arsenal must make a clear decision on William Saliba’s persistent back problem once the World Cup concludes, L’Équipe reports. Medical staff and those close to the centre back have flagged ongoing concerns about his long-term fitness, with the player seen grimacing during parts of team training before Monday’s game.
As it stands, and has been the case for a while now, Saliba is expected to continue to play through the injury. The club will still need a formal treatment plan after the World Cup. Arsenal could continue with a conservative management strategy, but surgery has not been ruled out and remains a possible course of action.
If the issue is aggravated during the tournament, any further damage this summer could significantly delay his participation at the start of next season. The specifics of Saliba’s current ailment remain unclear at present, and it is not yet known whether this problem is connected to the back injury that sidelined him in March 2023.
Supporters will recall that Saliba missed three months in 2023 while recovering from that earlier back injury. Many fans saw his absence that season as a factor in Arsenal’s slip in the Premier League title race. Those memories contribute to the current anxiety around the possibility that a recurring condition may require more definitive treatment.
Should Saliba undergo surgery after the World Cup, he would almost certainly not be ready for the start of the 2026–27 season, although recovery timelines can vary depending on the exact nature of the intervention. Arsenal’s title defence is due to begin on August 22, a little over a month after the World Cup final on July 19. With France listed among the pre-tournament favourites, Saliba will be hoping for a deep run, perhaps lasting until the very last day.
