Arsenal trio likely to be injured for internationals

Key Arsenal players Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are all set to miss the latest set of internationals.

England duo Saka and Rice both hobbled out of their side’s disappointing 1-1 draw at London rivals Chelsea, while Odegaard was playing only his first match since he sustained an ankle injury playing for Norway in August.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “It doesn’t look good [for Bukayo and Declan], because for two players of that importance to tell you they cannot continue in the game, obviously it’s not good news. I don’t know whether to expect them to be fit because if not they don’t come off.”

Quizzed about Odegaard’s options, he added: “I haven’t spoken to the player yet. I will speak to him and then I can tell you what I prefer.”

Asked what he wanted from the international break, he added: “I’m praying that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped. That they are available and that they are fit, because, it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks.

“Doubt after doubt, issue after issue, not only with the ones that are not able to play, but with the ones who are able to play only for certain moments and not able to play. I’m just asking that, because the desire the team has and how much we want it there’s no question. It’s going to come.”