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Rice, Saka, Eze: Which Arsenal internationals will play vs Como?

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka aren’t set to play a part in Arsenal’s friendly match against Como 1907 on Wednesday night, but Eberechi Eze is expected to be involved.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Eberechi Eze of Arsenal kisses the Premier League trophy, as Arsenal are crowned the Champions of the Premier League for the 2025/26 Season, after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League)
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League

Isaan Khan of the Daily Mail reports that Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are likely to miss out on Arsenal’s squad to face Como 1907 in Wednesday’s friendly match at the Emirates Stadium.

The pair are still working back to full fitness after their post-World Cup holidays, and they’re evidently not deemed ready for this game.

On the other hand, Eberechi Eze is expected to be in the squad. Eze had the fewest minutes of the trio at the World Cup, as well as the fewest during the 2025/26 club campaign, so perhaps it’s felt the club don’t need to be quite as cautious with him.

Eberechi Eze #21 of England controls the ball against Fredrik Aursnes #14 of Norway during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images

There’s also a growing expectation that Bruno Guimaraes will be involved, having taken part in individual training with Arsenal’s fitness coaches last week.

Guimaraes was then spotted taking part in a light team session on the Emirates pitch after the Borussia Dortmund match on Sunday.

Perhaps the most likely outcome is that Eze and Guimaraes follow in the footsteps of Arsenal’s other late returners by playing 30 minutes on Wednesday to prepare them for a possible start in the following game.

There’s no word yet on Noni Madueke, nor the returning Spain internationals.

Bruno Guimaraes during his introduction at the Emirates Stadium (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Photo via Arsenal.com

Of course, in this case, the following game is the Community Shield match against Manchester City. And that will be followed by the Premier League opener against Coventry City.

Arsenal have a very tight turnaround to get their England and Spain World Cup internationals ready in time for those games, with those players only returning to training over the last four or five days.

The good news is that everyone should now be in team training except William Saliba and Jurrien Timber. Timber is training individually as he edges closer to his injury comeback, whilst Saliba is currently in a period of complete rest to allow his back injury to settle

William Saliba #17 of France walks off the pitch with medical staff after sustaining an injury during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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