Arsenal’s international break troubles intensified after Martín Zubimendi pulled out of the Spain squad with a knee issue, becoming the 10th player from the club to withdraw from national duty.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the midfielder came off the bench in Spain’s friendly win over Serbia on Friday after replacing Rodri of Manchester City. However, he will play no part in Tuesday’s friendly against the Egyptian national football team.
Sunday also brought more concern for Mikel Arteta’s side as defender Piero Hincapié left the Ecuador national team camp before they clashed with the Netherlands.
Hincapié had played 72 minutes against Morocco but has now returned to north London to begin recovery from an undisclosed injury.
Zubimendi and Hincapié join Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who left the England camp early under Thomas Tuchel. Neither featured in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay at Wembley Stadium and both will miss Tuesday’s meeting with Japan while undergoing medical checks.
Winger Noni Madueke also limped off in that match and was later seen wearing a knee brace.
Earlier, Eberechi Eze withdrew with a calf injury that forced him to miss Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace. He is expected to be sidelined for at least a month.
The injury list already included William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Leandro Trossard and Jurriën Timber, who withdrew from the France national team, Brazil, Belgium and Netherlands squads earlier in the window.
It remains unclear how long the growing list of absentees will be sidelined as Mikel Arteta prepares for a defining stretch of the season.
Arsenal return to action in the FA Cup quarter-finals away to Southampton on 4 April. That is followed by a trip to Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on 7 April.
The Gunners hold a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League and host Bournemouth on 11 April before a potentially decisive title clash with Manchester City on 19 April.
