With the international break now at an end, let’s take a look back at how Arsenal’s internationals performed for their countries.
Arsenal saw 16 players and three loanees called up for the September international break, including a first Albania call-up for Maldini Kacurri, and involvement for summer signings Piero Hincapie, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, and Viktor Gyokeres.
Cristhian Mosquera and Ethan Nwaneri are with the Spain and England u21 teams respectively, William Saliba was initially called up but subsequently withdrew through injury, and Bukayo Saka, Ben White, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Christian Norgaard are also injured this time around.
Mikel Merino was perhaps the standout performer with four goals in two games, but Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard both provided goals and assists, and Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres added to that assist count.
At the back, there were clean sheets for defences including Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Maldini Kacurri, and Riccardo Calafiori, as well as goalkeeper Karl Hein.
For the most part, it was a very positive break, with a number of Arsenal’s internationals taking a step towards World Cup qualification. Let’s take a look at the full breakdown.
Arsenal international September results
Thursday, September 4th
- Gibraltar 0-1 Albania (Friendly) – Kacurri played 90 minutes on his debut and helped Albania to keep a clean sheet.
- Norway 1-0 Finland (Friendly) – Odegaard played 45 minutes for Norway, and there was no suggestion of an injury setback as he was one of many players withdrawn at half-time of the friendly match.
- Liechtenstein 0-6 Belgium (World Cup qualifier) – Trossard played 23 minutes as a substitute for Belgium.
- Netherlands 1-1 Poland (World Cup qualifier) – Timber remained on the bench for the Netherlands, Kiwior played 90 minutes for Poland.
- Bulgaria 0-3 Spain (World Cup qualifier) – Merino scored and played 90 minutes and Zubimendi provided an assist and played 62 minutes for Spain, but Raya was on the bench.
Friday, September 5th
- Paraguay 0-0 Ecuador (World Cup qualifier) – Hincapie played 90 minutes and helped Ecuador to keep a clean sheet.
- Brazil 3-0 Chile (World Cup qualifier) – Gabriel played 90 minutes and helped Brazil to keep a clean sheet, with Martinelli also played 71 minutes.
- Italy 5-0 Estonia (World Cup qualifier) – Hein played 90 minutes for Estonia and made eight saves despite conceding five goals, whilst Calafiori completed 90 minutes for the opposition and helped his team to a clean-sheet victory.
- Slovenia 2-2 Sweden (World Cup qualifier) – Gyokeres played 90 minutes and provided an assist for Sweden.
- Ukraine 0-2 France (World Cup qualifier) – Zinchenko played 87 minutes for Ukraine, Saliba obviously wasn’t involved after his withdrawal through injury.
Saturday, September 6th
- England 2-0 Andorra (World Cup qualifier) – Madueke played 90 minutes and forced Andorra into an own goal with a cross to open the scoring. Rice played 68 minutes and scored the second goal of the game. Lewis-Skelly played 90 minutes and helped England keep a clean sheet. Eze also featured for 78 minutes.
Sunday, September 7th
- Lithuania 2-3 Netherlands (World Cup qualifier) – Timber came on as a substitute for the Netherlands for 28 minutes.
- Belgium 6-0 Kazakhstan (World Cup qualifier) – Trossard played 63 minutes as a starter for Belgium.
- Turkey 0-6 Spain (World Cup qualifier) – Merino scored a hat-trick and played the full 90 whilst Zubimendi played 73 minutes for Spain. Raya was on the bench again.
- Poland 3-1 Finland (World Cup qualifier) – Kiwior played another 90 minutes for Poland.
Monday, September 8th
- Israel 4-5 Italy (World Cup qualifier) – Calafiori was rested by Italy.
- Kosovo 2-0 Sweden (World Cup qualifier) – Gyokeres played 90 minutes for Sweden.
Tuesday, September 9th
- Azerbaijan 1-1 Ukraine (World Cup qualifier) – Zinchenko played 84 minutes and conceded a penalty with Ukraine.
- Estonia 0-0 Andorra (Friendly) – Hein played 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet for Estonia.
- Albania 1-0 Latvia (World Cup qualifier) – Kacurri wasn’t involved in the Albania squad vs Lativa.
- Serbia 0-5 England (World Cup qualifier) – Madueke played 76 minutes and scored for England, Rice played 81 minutes and provided two assists. Eze was an unused substitute, whilst Lewis-Skelly wasn’t involved in the squad.
- Norway 11-1 Moldova (World Cup qualifier) – Odegaard scored one and assisted two, as well as having some involvement in at least three other goals for Norway. He also played 90 minutes for the first time since his injury.
Wednesday, September 10th
- Ecuador 1-0 Argentina (World Cup qualifier) – Hincapie played 90 minutes and helped Ecuador to keep another clean sheet.
- Bolivia 1-0 Brazil (World Cup qualifier) – Both Gabriel and Martinelli were unused substitutes against Bolivia.
Arsenal call-ups for the September international break
Maldini Kacurri (Albania), Leandro Trossard (Belgium), Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli (Brazil), Piero Hincapie (Ecuador), Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and Myles Lewis-Skelly (England), Riccardo Calafiori (Italy), Jurrien Timber (Netherlands), Martin Odegaard (Norway), David Raya, Mikel Merino, and Martin Zubimendi (Spain), and Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden).
Loanees
Jakub Kiwior (Poland), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Ukraine), and Karl Hein (Estonia).