Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal following scrutiny over the club’s high number of international withdrawals, insisting all decisions were based on medical advice and handled transparently.

The Gunners saw 11 players pull out of international duty during the most recent break, accounting for nearly half of the 23 withdrawals recorded across the Premier League.

The situation sparked debate over whether Arsenal were dealing with a significant injury crisis or taking a cautious approach to player fitness during a crucial stage of the season.

Arteta dismissed any suggestion of manipulation, stressing that the club maintains strong relationships with national teams and communicates openly about player conditions.

He pointed specifically to England manager Thomas Tuchel as an example of that cooperation.

According to Arteta in his press conference on Friday, every withdrawal followed a clear medical assessment. He added that Arsenal have consistently supported international call-ups and would never prevent fit players from representing their countries.

Several key players had already been ruled out before joining their national squads.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães withdrew with ankle and knee injuries respectively, while Eberechi Eze, Martin Ødegaard, and Jurrien Timber also missed out due to fitness issues. Leandro Trossard later pulled out with a hip problem.

A further five players withdrew after linking up with their countries, including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, both due to minor knocks. Noni Madueke suffered a knee injury while on duty, while Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapié also returned early.

Despite the controversy, Arteta emphasized that players are eager to represent their nations and that Arsenal fully supports international football when players are fit to participate.

Attention now turns back to club action, with Arsenal preparing for their FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton. Arteta confirmed Eze will miss the match, while Ødegaard and Timber could return to contention. Madueke is also being assessed, with his injury understood to be less serious than initially feared.

“We have a very good relationship and communication with most of the national teams – certainly with [England manager] Thomas [Tuchel] too.

“We have been extremely supportive all the time. When you have to communicate the state of every player, we are always honest, and a medical decision had to be made. That was clear what the conclusion was,” Arteta said.

Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday, defeating Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico to seal their first appearance at the finals in 40 years.

Iraq, whose preparations for Tuesday’s playoff had been disrupted by the war in the Middle East, will play in World Cup Group I against France, Senegal and Norway.

Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at the 1986 finals in Mexico.

The win marked a triumph for Iraq’s Australian coach Graham Arnold, who had initially sought to have Tuesday’s fixture postponed due to the disruption caused by the regional conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Most of the Iraqi squad only reached Mexico after a gruelling three‑day journey from Baghdad that began with an overland crossing into Jordan.

But there was little sign of weariness during a confident start by Iraq, who took the lead after nine minutes through Luton Town striker Al-Hamadi -– the 24-year-old who moved to Liverpool as a toddler following the outbreak of the 2003 Iraq war.

Iraq midfielder Amir Al-Ammari won a corner after a superb free-kick that was saved at full stretch from Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.

From the subsequent set piece Al-Ammari curled a pinpoint corner on to the head of Al-Hamadi who nodded home for 1-0.

Iraq were well worth the early goal and looked in control until Bolivia, who had gradually grown into the game, equalized after 38 minutes.

Ramiro Vaca’s shot from the edge of the area was controlled with one touch by Moises Paniagua and the Morocco-based central midfielder swept into the roof of the net.

The goal stunned Iraq and Bolivia looked likely to grab a second after dominating the remainder of the half.

Iraq regained the lead eight minutes into the second half, when a long ball forward was nodded into the path of substitute Marko Lawk-Farji.

Lawk-Farji’s cross found captain Hussein and the veteran striker clipped a first-time finish into the bottom corner.

Bolivia pressed frantically for a goal to force extra-time, but Iraq’s well-marshalled defence held firm during a nerve-shredding nine minutes of stoppage time.

AFP

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on Thursday, June 11, with host nation Mexico taking on South Africa in Mexico City, as the expanded 48-team tournament begins its group stage across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The competition, which for the first time features 12 groups of four teams each, will run through the end of June before the knockout rounds begin.

The 12 groups for the tournament, confirmed after the conclusion of both the European and inter-continental play-offs, are as follows:

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic

Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey

Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Below is the complete list of group stage fixtures:

GROUP A

Mexico vs South Africa — June 11, 20:00, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City

Korea Republic vs Czechia — June 12, 03:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara

Czechia vs South Africa — June 18, 17:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

Mexico vs Korea Republic — June 19, 02:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara

Czechia vs Mexico — June 25, 02:00, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City

South Africa vs Korea Republic — June 25, 02:00, Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey

GROUP B

Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina — June 12, 20:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

Qatar vs Switzerland — June 13, 20:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

Switzerland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina — June 18, 20:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

Canada vs Qatar — June 18, 23:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

Switzerland vs Canada — June 24, 20:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Qatar — June 24, 20:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle

GROUP C

Brazil vs Morocco — June 13, 23:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

Haiti vs Scotland — June 14, 02:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

Scotland vs Morocco — June 19, 23:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

Brazil vs Haiti — June 20, 02:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia

Scotland vs Brazil — June 24, 23:00, Miami Stadium, Miami

Morocco vs Haiti — June 24, 23:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

GROUP D

USA vs Paraguay — June 13, 02:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

Australia vs Türkiye — June 14, 05:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

USA vs Australia — June 19, 20:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle

Türkiye vs Paraguay — June 20, 05:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

Türkiye vs USA — June 26, 03:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

Paraguay vs Australia — June 26, 03:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

GROUP E

Germany vs Curaçao — June 14, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador — June 15, 00:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia

Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire — June 20, 21:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

Ecuador vs Curaçao — June 21, 01:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City

Curaçao vs Côte d’Ivoire — June 25, 21:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia

Ecuador vs Germany — June 25, 21:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

GROUP F

Netherlands vs Japan — June 14, 21:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

Sweden vs Tunisia — June 15, 03:00, Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey

Netherlands vs Sweden — June 20, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Tunisia vs Japan — June 21, 05:00, Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey

Japan vs Sweden — June 26, 00:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

Tunisia vs Netherlands — June 26, 00:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City

GROUP G

Belgium vs Egypt — June 15, 20:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle

IR Iran vs New Zealand — June 16, 02:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

Belgium vs IR Iran — June 21, 20:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

New Zealand vs Egypt — June 22, 02:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

Egypt vs IR Iran — June 27, 04:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle

New Zealand vs Belgium — June 27, 04:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

GROUP H

Spain vs Cabo Verde — June 15, 17:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — June 15, 23:00, Miami Stadium, Miami

Spain vs Saudi Arabia — June 21, 17:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

Uruguay vs Cabo Verde — June 21, 23:00, Miami Stadium, Miami

Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia — June 27, 01:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Uruguay vs Spain — June 27, 01:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara

GROUP I

France vs Senegal — June 16, 20:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

Iraq vs Norway — June 16, 23:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

France vs Iraq — June 22, 22:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia

Norway vs Senegal — June 23, 01:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

Norway vs France — June 26, 20:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

Senegal vs Iraq — June 26, 20:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

GROUP J

Argentina vs Algeria — June 17, 02:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City

Austria vs Jordan — June 17, 05:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

Argentina vs Austria — June 22, 18:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

Jordan vs Algeria — June 23, 04:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

Algeria vs Austria — June 28, 03:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City

Jordan vs Argentina — June 28, 03:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

GROUP K

Portugal vs Congo DR — June 17, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Uzbekistan vs Colombia — June 18, 03:00, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City

Portugal vs Uzbekistan — June 23, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Colombia vs Congo DR — June 24, 03:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara

Colombia vs Portugal — June 28, 00:30, Miami Stadium, Miami

Congo DR vs Uzbekistan — June 28, 00:30, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

GROUP L

England vs Croatia — June 17, 21:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

Ghana vs Panama — June 18, 00:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

England vs Ghana — June 23, 21:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

Panama vs Croatia — June 24, 00:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

Panama vs England — June 27, 22:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

Croatia vs Ghana — June 27, 22:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia