Arsenal
Arsenal injury wave: medical caution as Rice, Saka and Madueke return early
Arsenal saw several internationals return early with injuries, and Tuchel emphasised medical caution.
Arsenal confirmed a significant number of internationals returned prematurely from duty after medical assessments identified risks of aggravating existing problems. England manager Thomas Tuchel said the club trio of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke were sent home once it became clear the danger of re-injury “was way too big.”
Tuchel added: “Everyone will be out for quite some days but not dramatically.” He explained the decision on Saka and Rice: “We had an assessment after the match and none of them were able to stay and get any minutes, so we released them, of course.” Regarding Madueke, whose images showed him limping in a knee brace, Tuchel said the winger’s “feeling” was “slightly better” than those pictures and warned: “He will be out for some days.”
The England contingent followed a wider pattern at the club, with as many as 10 Arsenal players returning early from international duty with injury concerns. That group included players across several levels of severity:
– Eberechi Eze (England): calf, out for at least a month. He missed last weekend’s Carabao Cup final and reports fear he could be sidelined until the end of April.
– Noni Madueke (England): knee, doubtful after one international appearance.
– Piero Hincapié (Ecuador): knock, doubtful after one international appearance.
– Martín Zubimendi (Spain): knee, doubtful after one international appearance.
– Jurriën Timber (Netherlands): ankle, minor concern. He missed the Wembley showpiece with an ankle problem that had been troubling him for days.
– Leandro Trossard (Belgium): hip, minor concern.
– William Saliba (France): ankle, minor concern.
– Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil): knee, minor concern.
– Declan Rice (England): discomfort, minor concern.
– Bukayo Saka (England): discomfort, minor concern.
The volume of withdrawals has prompted commentary about the balance between club and country, with comparisons drawn to past debates over player availability and manager influence. Tuchel sought to counter any suggestion the players wanted to stay at the expense of their long-term fitness. “[Rice and Saka] had a medical assessment,” the Three Lions boss said. “They wanted desperately to play—to just get the narrative straight—wanted desperately to be involved. But it just made no sense to take this risk.
“If it would have been maybe the last game of the season, we would have kept them and tried everything, but in this moment of the season, it did not make sense. The risk for making it worse was just way too big. They were both in discomfort, clearly in discomfort, when we did the medical assessment. So it made absolutely no sense to stay.”
Arsenal
Arsenal’s academy group aiming to force their way into 2026/27
Arsenal’s academy hopefuls are pushing for senior chances as Arteta weighs the next step in 2026/27.
Arsenal’s academy continues to produce players who believe there is a route into Mikel Arteta’s senior squad, and next season could present another opening for several of them.
Arteta has already shown that he is prepared to trust young talent, with Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri standing as recent examples of graduates who have been given a platform to develop at first-team level.
Max Dowman may already have completed his first breakthrough year. He made 13 first-team appearances in 2025/26, broke records and became a regular talking point, although his minutes were handled carefully because of his age. At 16, he was eased into the side rather than overexposed, but 2026/27 could be the season when he moves from useful substitute to genuine star.
Arsenal’s commitments across four competitions should create room for him. The domestic cups look likely to offer him starts, while he has already shown that he can contribute in the Premier League and the Champions League. Dowman’s ability to operate on the right wing or as an attacking midfielder is another advantage, especially with competition for places expected to remain high.
Marli Salmon also took early steps in senior football last season, making four appearances across the Champions League and FA Cup. The 16-year-old centre back did not attract the same level of attention as Dowman, but his rise into the senior group remains notable. Arsenal, though, are well stocked in central defence, with Gabriel, Piero Hincapié, Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera all options, while Ben White and Jurriën Timber can also play there. That makes regular opportunities difficult to secure.
Andre Harriman-Annous offers a different profile. The 18-year-old has impressed as both a centre forward and wide player in the academy, and his record of 10 goals and two assists for the Under-21s underlines his productivity. He has pace, direct running and a finishing touch, though he may still need added muscle before stepping up fully. Arteta used him twice last season in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Louie Copley, meanwhile, is yet to debut for Arsenal but already has senior experience after nine appearances on loan with Crawley Town in League Two, where he started eight games and set up one goal. Evan Mooney has only recently arrived, having joined from St Mirren after 23 appearances and a Scottish League Cup win in Scotland, and he has settled quickly south of the border.
Arsenal
Why Vinícius Jr Would Be Arsenal’s Natural Left-Side Solution
Vinícius Jr could transform Arsenal’s left side, if a transfer from Real Madrid ever advances.
Arsenal’s search for greater threat on the left flank has taken them into rare territory, with Vinícius Júnior now viewed as the most ambitious answer to a long-running issue. The club have already brought in Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge to cover for the departure of Leandro Trossard, yet the pursuit of another wide attacker suggests the work in that area is not finished. Before Morgan Rogers moved to London neighbours Chelsea, Arsenal had also considered him for the same role.
A move for Vinícius Jr is still only at an early stage, and Real Madrid are understood to be reluctant to part with him. Even so, the 26-year-old is into the final year of his contract and talks are at a standstill, leaving his future uncertain. That makes this summer the most realistic opening Arsenal may get if they want to test the scale of the deal.
Tactically, the fit is obvious. Vinícius Jr would take over the left wing immediately, regardless of Tzolis’s arrival. His game is built on staying wide, isolating full-backs and driving at them, then either reaching the byline or cutting inside onto his stronger right foot to shoot or slip a pass into the box. Arsenal have lacked consistent production from that side for much of 2025-26, with Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli combining for only seven league goals. Eberechi Eze also spent time there, but he is most effective centrally.
Arsenal’s attack has largely leaned to the right, where Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard are usually the main reference points. Vinícius Jr on the opposite side would change that balance at once, forcing defenders to respect both flanks. He would also offer a major solution against deep defensive blocks through his dribbling, close control and ability to beat multiple opponents alone.
There is also value in his combination play and his threat in transition, both of which suit Arsenal’s style. The drawback is his limited defensive work, but the club’s strong defensive base would help cover that. The biggest losers would be Gabriel Martinelli and Tzolis, with the latter likely reduced to backup duty if the move ever happened.
Arsenal
Premier League clubs step up 2026/27 preseason with fixtures spread across the world
Premier League clubs are spread across Europe, Asia and the US in a busy 2026/27 preseason.
With the World Cup having only recently concluded, Premier League clubs are already deep into their 2026/27 preseason programmes. The calendar is tight, the travel is heavy and the purpose is clear: get players ready, test combinations and give new faces a chance to make an early impression.
Arsenal, the reigning champions, are among the later starters. Their first friendly comes on Aug. 1 against Girona in Catalonia, before further meetings with Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como. They will then face Manchester City in the Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Aston Villa have already opened with a 5-0 win over Walsall and continue across Europe and Asia, while Bournemouth began with a 4-1 victory against St. Pauli. Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion both have short schedules remaining, with each taking on European opposition in mid-August.
Chelsea’s first run under new manager Xabi Alonso takes them to Australia for matches against Western Sydney Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, before trips through Hong Kong, Jakarta and Malaysia. Their final friendly is against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere, Everton have mixed early results and face a demanding route through Scotland, Germany and home soil before meeting Lille. Fulham also have work to do after a behind-closed-doors defeat to Norwich City. Hull City, Ipswich Town and Coventry City all have their own preparations mapped out, while Crystal Palace have already played twice and continue with fixtures in Italy and Germany.
Liverpool’s schedule includes a United States tour against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United, followed by Monaco and two games against Como on Aug. 16. Manchester City are taking a lighter approach, starting with Inter in Hong Kong before facing the K-League All-Stars, Atlético Madrid and Arsenal. Manchester United, meanwhile, have already lost to Wrexham and beaten Rosenborg 5-0, with Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds United and Milan still to come.
Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur also remain busy, with each club using these final weeks to sharpen up before the league begins.
