England coach Tuchel backs Rice, Saka as list of Arsenal stars citing injuries in past week hits 10

LONDON — England manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed Monday that Arsenal pair Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka “wanted desperately” to feature in the current international window but were withdrawn after medical assessments revealed a high risk of aggravating existing complaints.

The decision means ten Arsenal players have now either reported late fitness issues or left national-team camps early within the past seven days, a development that comes as Mikel Arteta’s side pursues a treble of major honours and a first English league crown in 22 years.

“The risk for making it worse was just way too big,” Tuchel told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup tune-up against Japan. “They were both clearly in discomfort when we did the medical assessment, so it made absolutely no sense that they stayed.”

Rice and Saka, both expected to start for England at the upcoming World Cup, have been instrumental in Arsenal’s domestic surge that sees the club nine points clear at the Premier League summit, albeit with Manchester City holding a game in hand.

The growing injury list is not confined to English talent. Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Ecuador defender Piero Hincapié returned to London after featuring in weekend fixtures, while centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães never linked up with France or Brazil ahead of Friday’s 2-1 friendly in the United States.

Arsenal now face a congested April itinerary beginning with Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton, followed by a Champions League last-eight first leg at Sporting Lisbon next Tuesday. The Gunners’ next league assignment is a home meeting with Bournemouth on 11 April.

Two of Arteta’s squad remain on playoff duty Tuesday: Sweden striker Viktor Gyökeres, fresh from a hat-trick against Ukraine, meets Poland, and Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori faces Bosnia-Herzegovina as both nations chase World Cup qualification.