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Arsenal are getting ready for the final push for Premier League glory.
Mikel Arteta's side have a nine-point lead at the top of the table with seven matches to go, while their nearest challengers Manchester City have a game in hand.
The Gunners return to action after the international break with an FA Cup quarterfinal against Championship side Southampton and face Sporting CP at the same stage of the Champions League.
A crunch showdown in the league with Carabao Cup final conquerors City also headlines an April schedule that could prove defining in a potentially historic season.
MORE: Kai Havertz makes Arsenal future admission after injury setbacks
But Arteta has been hit by an unwanted deluge of fitness concerns during the March internationals, with a succession of players withdrawing from their national squads to return to London Colny.
This has become a talking point complete with usual conjecture, claim and counter-claim across social and traditional media. Here's what we know about Arsenal's international break injuries.
How many Arsenal players have withdrawn during the international break?
Overall, 10 players from Mikel Arteta's squad have withdrawn from their international squads over the course of the international break.
Captain Martin Odegaard is still recovering from a knee injury suffered in February and was not named in Norway's squad as a result, so he does not count as one of those who were included in their international team before pulling out.
Gabriel
The centre-back completed 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup final on March 22 but pulled out of Brazil's friendlies against France and Croatia the following day with a knee injury.
William Saliba
Gabriel's centre-back partner withdrew from France's assignments with Brazil and Colombia due to an injury to his left ankle.
Leandro Trossard
Trossard was another player who took part in the Carabao Cup final but was substituted late on and missed Arsenal's late win over Everton the previous weekend. The day after the defeat to City, it was confirmed Trossard would not report for Belgium duty.
Jurrien Timber
Unlike Gabriel, Saliba and Trossard, Netherlands defender Timber was nursing a groin complaint and did not feature against City. As such, his withdrawal from Ronald Koeman's squad was to be expected.
Eberechi Eze
Arsenal missed Eze's creativity from attacking midfield in the Carabao Cup final and a calf injury meant he had to stand down from Thomas Tuchel's England squad.
Bukayo Saka
Saka limped through the Wembley mixed zone after the City game but was one of 11 England players given extra time to rest and recover by Tuchel. Nevertheless, when the winger joined up with the Three Lions squad after their draw with Uruguay, he was sent back to Arsenal for further medical assessment.
Declan Rice
Rice was in the same boat as Saka, in terms of sitting out England vs. Uruguay and he also joins his club teammate back at London Colney. “Declan reported, he even went out on the pitch to try, but it's the moment of the season where I am also not willing to take any risk with him," Tuchel said.
Noni Madueke
Madueke did make it the England camp for the match with Uruguay and it didn't do him a lot of good. The winger was forced off with a knee injury before halftime after colliding with Rodrigo Aguirre.
Piero Hincapie
Ecuador defender Hincapie played against Morocco, but after "medical and imaging tests", his national team sent him back to Arsenal.
Martin Zubimendi
Spain midfielder Zubimendi was a late substitute in his country's match against Serbia but has gone back to Arsenal due to discomfort in his right knee.
Arsenal fixture schedule: Next five games
- Southampton vs. Arsenal | FA Cup 6th round | Saturday, April 4
- Sporting CP vs. Arsenal | Champions League quarterfinal, first leg | Tuesday, April 7
- Arsenal vs. Bournemouth | Premier League | Saturday, April 11
- Arsenal vs. Sporting CP | Champions League quarterfinal, second leg | Wednesday, April 15
- Man City vs. Arsenal | Premier League | Sunday, April 19
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