Khaberni - Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is facing an unprecedented medical nightmare following the simultaneous withdrawal of 11 players from the main and reserve teams.
The injuries suffered by the "Gunners" are not a mere coincidence, but a predicted outcome of physical exhaustion reaching a "burst" in the final meters of the Premier League title race.
The last hours saw Piero Hincapié (Ecuador) and Martín Zubimendi (Spain) join the list of those returning to London, catching up with the English trio of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Noni Madueke.
9 of these withdrawn stars are among those who played the most for Arsenal this season (5 of them have crossed the 3000-minute mark), reinforcing the "exhaustion" hypothesis exploited by the London club's medical staff to return them to "London Colney".
Defensive Line Collapse
The back line, which has been the safety valve for the "Gunners," faces a complete disintegration:
• Gabriel Magalhães: Withdrew from the Brazil camp, after playing over 3000 minutes this season.
• William Saliba: An indispensable French pillar, returned to London for treatment after experiencing draining pains.
• Piero Hincapié: The latest shock; left the Ecuador camp immediately after medical tests proved he couldn't continue.
• Jurrien Timber: Still racing against time to recover from an injury that prevented him from playing in the cup final, with Arteta hoping for his return for Saturday's match.
Midfield: "Engines" Stopped Working
The team's engine has suffered a sudden breakdown affecting key parts:
• Rice: Returned from the England camp after just one day for precise examinations at "London Colney".
• Martín Zubimendi: Withdrawn from the Spanish team lineup due to worrying pain in his right knee.
• Martin Ødegaard: The absent captain since 121 days ago; decided to stay in London to continue his rigorous rehabilitation from a ligament injury that threatened his season.
• Leandro Trossard: Joined the list of those withdrawn from the Belgium camp to ensure no aggravation of his muscle injury.
Attack Line: Broken Wings
The striking force that scored the latest victories is now in the examination room:
• Saka: The team's star returned from the "Three Lions" camp early, causing fans to panic about his physical readiness.
• Madueke: The most terrifying injury; seen leaving Wembley with a "knee brace" after the Uruguay match, amid news of an injury to his previously "healthy" knee.
• Eberechi Eze: The knockout blow with his loss for 4 weeks due to a calf injury, which puts a huge burden on Ødegaard (if back) to fill the gap.
Arteta tries to "protect" his team from complete physical collapse by pulling them from national teams, but the field reality confirms that "the curse" has indeed occurred, and the upcoming weeks will be a test for the depth of the squad and the ability of the "substitutes" to maintain the nine-point gap.
Good Omens Amid Concern
Despite the long list, there are good news for "Gunners" fans:
- Return of the captain: Ødegaard is nearing readiness and may compensate for the impactful absence of Eze.
- Jurrien Timber: Racing against time to make it to Saturday's match after missing the cup final.
- Madueke's injury: Preliminary examinations indicate that the injury is not in the same old knee, thus reducing the danger of the situation.
