As various Arsenal players depart for international duty despite being previously ruled out, it’s difficult to make heads nor tails of who’s currently injured and who isn’t.
In this week’s Arsenal squad injury report, we break down who has a chance to play for the country during the interlul and who doesn’t.
Petr Cech (calf)
Cech was subbed off in the first half against West Brom and has since been ruled out for four weeks with a calf strain.
This is the goalkeeper’s first injury for almost a year and only his second since signing for Arsenal from Chelsea in 2015.
The 34-year-old retired from international football last year.
Alexis Sanchez (ankle)
The forward was taken off against West Brom, which Arsene Wenger later confirmed was because of the tackle he’d received from James McLean earlier in the game. The boss said post-match that his ankle didn’t look good.
The Chilean headed off for international duty to be assessed by Chile medics, as is standard procedure unless the player has a serious injury and has been ruled out for a while. Said medics have confirmed that Alexis is fit enough to face Argentina on 23 March.
Not that anyone should be surprised – the man’s a machine.
Mesut Ozil (hamstring)
Ozil, who was said to have a tight hamstring for the West Brom game, jetted off to meet the German national team ahead of their friendly against England tonight (Wednesday). However, manager Joachim Low confirmed that he will miss the match as he is in fact injured.
No return date has been given at the time of writing.
Lucas Perez (thigh)
Lucas was left out of Arsenal’s squad to face West Brom at the weekend and it turns out he’s picked up a thigh injury.
The Spaniard has been ruled out for three weeks but as he’s yet to get a call up for his country, the injury doesn’t affect international duty for him.
Kieran Gibbs (knock)
The left-back was left out of Arsenal’s squad at the Hawthorns after apparently sustaining a knock against Lincoln in the FA Cup.
The defender hasn’t been called up for England so at least he’ll get a rest during the break.
Mohamed Elneny (ankle)
The midfielder is back in training after three weeks sidelined with an ankle problem that he picked up against Sutton on 20 February.
Egypt face Togo on 28 March in a friendly match and Elneny has received a call-up.
https://twitter.com/EgyptNT/status/843847137708429312
Santi Cazorla (ankle)
The midfielder has been ruled out until next season and there have been no updates.