Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are major doubts for England’s upcoming Nations League matches, with Mikel Arteta suggesting the pair will be forced to pull out of the international break.
Both Saka and Rice came off injured during the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Rice had been a doubt heading into the game having missed the midweek defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League with a broken toe, while Saka appeared to be injured by a late challenge from Marc Cucurella.
Both players were named in Lee Carsley’s final England squad last week, with the Three Lions due to meet up at St. George’s Park on Monday ahead of games against Greece and Republic of Ireland.
However, Arteta does not believe either will be available.
“It doesn’t look good,” he said. “For two players of that importance to tell you they cannot continue in the game, obviously it’s not good news.
“Two players that just came off, I don’t expect them to be fit because if they are, they don’t come off.”
Arteta will also speak to Martin Odegaard before a decision is made on whether the playmaker will join up with Norway this month.
Odegaard was initially left out of the national team squad while still sidelined with an ankle problem, but came through 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge and set up Gabriel Martinelli’s opening goal.
“I don’t know any other player in the league that is capable of doing that, after six weeks out,” he said.
“He had a day-and-a-half to train. To be able to do it, physically, mentally, to be connected the way he was with the team, is unbelievable.
“I haven’t spoken to the player yet [about playing for Norway]. I will speak to him and then I can tell you what I prefer.”
