Saka, Rice, Madueke & Eze to miss start of Arsenal's pre-season
England's ongoing World Cup campaign forces Arsenal stars Saka, Rice, Madueke and Eze to take a mandatory three-week break, impacting the club's pre-season schedule.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
Arsenal face a depleted squad for the start of their 2026-27 pre-season preparations as a core group of English players remains involved in the World Cup. Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze are all confirmed to be sidelined for the early summer fixtures.
The club enforces a strict internal policy granting all international players a mandatory three-week rest period following their exit from a major tournament. As England has advanced to the quarter-finals, these players will inevitably miss the beginning of the club's summer travel itinerary.
The situation is further complicated by injury concerns. Bukayo Saka continues to manage an Achilles issue, while Declan Rice is playing through hamstring discomfort. Should England progress to the semi-finals, these players would miss both the friendly against Girona on August 1 and the subsequent match against Real Betis on August 5.
Manager Mikel Arteta is now expected to lean on fringe and youth players for the upcoming trips to Spain and Ireland. This provides a significant opportunity for young prospects, including 19-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, to showcase their abilities as the club looks to manage fitness while integrating the next generation.