🗓️ ARSENAL WEEKLY
#2026-W39 · MON 21 SEP – SUN 27 SEP
International break: Rice pulls out of England duty as Arsenal regroup for Leeds
Arsenal played no matches in a week entirely given over to an extended international break following the 3-0 defeat at Brighton. Declan Rice withdrew from Thomas Tuchel's England squad on Monday, a load-management decision after he carried a hamstring issue through the World Cup; he had played 549 of Arsenal's 630 league minutes this season. Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera are targeting a return against Leeds United on October 10, while William Saliba's back problem is not expected to clear until late November. Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Eberechi Eze and Ezri Konsa were involved as England lost 3-2 to world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday. Arsenal stay second in the Premier League on 12 points from five games, three behind Manchester City, with Leeds at home next on October 10.
No league football during the international break; three points behind Manchester City.
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Around the club
Rice withdraws from England squad
Declan Rice pulled out of England's Nations League squad on Monday in a load-management decision, having carried a hamstring issue through the World Cup. He is expected to be ready for Leeds United on October 10.
White and Mosquera target Leeds return
Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera, who both missed the Brighton defeat, are expected back after the break; William Saliba's back injury is not expected to clear until around November 21.
Four Gunners involved in Wembley thriller
Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Eberechi Eze and Ezri Konsa were in England's Nations League squad as the Three Lions lost 3-2 to world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday, Lewis-Skelly making his first England start in central midfield.
Form watch
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Made his first England start in central midfield against Spain and drew praise for a solid 70 minutes in the 3-2 defeat.
Bukayo Saka
Quiet night by his standards against Spain, curling just wide with the score level at Wembley.
Declan Rice
Rested from England duty after playing 549 of Arsenal's 630 league minutes this season; being managed for Leeds on October 10.
Sources: bbc.com · bbc.com · football.london · espn.com · skysports.com