Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have pulled out of England duty after struggling with injuries during Arsenal’s match against Chelsea on Sunday.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Declan Rice of England reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Greece at Wembley Stadium on October 10, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Declan Rice of England reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Greece at Wembley Stadium on October 10, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have both pulled out of the November international break, with England’s official website confirming the news.

England writes that Rice and Saka are unavailable for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, along with former Gunner Aaron Ramsdale.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Cole Palmer have also pulled out.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Declan Rice of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Arsenal FC at St James' Park on November 02, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND: Declan Rice of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Arsenal FC at St James’ Park on November 02, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Rice and Saka both played against Chelsea at the weekend, but Rice was withdrawn after 71 minutes, and Saka after 80. As two of Arsenal’s key players, ideally they’d have completed the match, but that ultimately wasn’t possible.

Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta strongly suggested he didn’t expect either player to be involved with England.

“Two players that have just come off? I don’t expect them to be fit, because if they were, they wouldn’t have come off,” Arteta said.

“It doesn’t look good because two players of that importance tell you that they cannot continue in the game, so it obviously isn’t good news.”

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 31, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 31, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)

We’ll have to wait for an update on Saka, but Rice’s issue is reportedly a broken toe. The midfielder has been playing through the pain, but hopefully he can now use the international break to give his feet a rest.

Arsenal are next in action in just 11 days, facing Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.