Gunners

It's International Week, How Are Our Participating Gunners Faring?

Gary McLaughlin

SEP 8, 2025

The Premier League hits the first pause of the season to allow for qualifying for the world cup in 2026 and we take a look at which Arsenal players are away on international duty.

Who's playing and for which countries?

Altogether, Arsenal are well represented on the global stage and have 16 players representing their countries this week on world cup duty with three more featuring in U21 and U19 duty. Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and William Saliba would certainly have been joining that list but miss out through injury.

Brazil

Brazil has two first team Arsenal players in action this week in their South American qualifying campaign. With qualification already assured for next year's finals, Gabriel Martinelli (71) and Gabriel Magalhaes both featured in the 3-0 win over Chile on Friday (5th Sept). Brazil play Bolivia in their final group game and will look to continue with their recent form and a winning end to their campaign.

*Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli (Bradley Collyer/PA)*

Ecuador

New signing Piero Hincapie had the luxury of also having secured qualification with the Ecuadorian national team with games to spare. They played out a 0-0 draw with Paraguay on Friday (5th Sept) where Hincapie played the full 90 minutes and now they face reigning world cup champions Argentina in their final outing.

Sweden

Viktor Gyokores kicked off his country's qualification hopes for the 2026 finals in the Group B match against Slovenia on Friday. Gyokores played the full 90 minutes and provided an assist in the 73rd minute for Ayari in the 2-2 draw. It was Murat Yakin's Switzerland who grabbed an early lead in group B though having beaten Kosovo 4-0 at home and it's Kosovo who are up next for Gyokores and Sweden. Monday night's game will be a chance to pick up vital points for Sweden in the qualifying campaign.

🅰️ Viktor Gyökeres played a full 90 and had an assist in Sweden’s 2-2 draw vs Slovenia! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/I8z0fLQ3Cg
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) September 6, 2025

Belgium

Leandro Trossard played 23 minutes as a substitute in Belgium's 6-0 win away to Liechtenstein on Thursday (4th Sept) in Group J and started in Sunday's convincing win over Kazakhstan, also 6-0. Belgium currently are second in the group behind North Macedonia on 10 points having played a game less.

Netherlands

Netherlands and Arsenal's Jurrien Timber have got off to a solid start in the qualifying campaign with three wins and a draw leaving the Dutch in pole position in Group G. They top the group on 10 points followed by Poland in 2nd place, also on 10 points. The Dutch however, have a superior goal difference and only dropped points in the group to Poland who they drew with at home in Rotterdam on Thursday (4th Sept).

England

Arsenal have four players away on international duty with England, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice and Myles Lewis Skelly. Thomas Tuchel's side have a 100% start to the qualifying campaign and are top of Group K after their 2-0 win against Andorra on Saturday (6th Sept) with Declan Rice scoring the 2nd goal on 67 minutes. They face Serbia away on Tuesday evening in the second of their international fixtures in this international break.

Noni Madueke and Elliot Anderson reflect on last night's win 💬
— England (@England) September 7, 2025

Spain

Arsenal have three first team players on international duty with the Spanish squad and a 3-0 win away to Bulgaria on Thursday (4th September) was the perfect start to their world cup qualifying campaign. Mikel Merino played a key part in the victory with a goal and Martin Zubimendi also contributed with an assist . David Raya was an unused substitute. They rounded up a perfect start to the campaign with a 6-0 win over Turkey on Sunday evening, Merino again on the scoresheet with a stunning hat trick.

Italy/Norway

Arsenal are represented twice in Group I with Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard hoping for success with their respective countries. Calafiori's Italy are in third place in the group with 6 points having won 5-0 against Estonia on Friday, their only loss at this stage coming against Norway. The Azzurri will now face 2nd place Israel as they aim to close the gap in their group. Better fortunes for Arsenal captain Odegaard as they have a 100% record in the group, having won all four games to this point, they play bottom of the group Moldova on Tuesday hoping to continue with their win streak.