17 Arsenal Players Head to International Duty With Four Matches Possible

Arsenal have released the full international schedule for 17 players across 11 senior national teams during the extended September-October window.

Arsenal's club schedule has paused for an extended September-October international window, and 17 first-team players have departed to represent their countries at senior level. The unusual calendar means some players could play as many as four matches before returning to the club.

England have called up four Arsenal players: Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ezri Konsa. Their group also includes Spain's David Raya, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino, with England and Spain meeting at Wembley-equivalent venues on September 26 and again in the reverse fixture on October 6.

Elsewhere, Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes are with Brazil for three matches, while Kai Havertz has been named in Germany's squad only for their opening two games. Other call-ups include Riccardo Calafiori (Italy), Jurrien Timber (Netherlands), Martin Odegaard (Norway), Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden), Christos Tzolis (Greece), James Scanlon (Gibraltar) and Ceadach O'Neill (Northern Ireland).

The contingent is smaller than it might have been. Declan Rice withdrew from England duty after suffering an injury against Brighton, while Ecuador did not select Piero Hincapie, allowing the defender to remain in London and work on his fitness. Academy player Marli Salmon also pulled out of England U18 duty through injury.

The main question for manager Mikel Arteta is whether his players return fit for the resumption of club football, though some, such as Gyokeres and Zubimendi, may benefit from the additional playing time.