Arsenal's 11 international withdrawals - injury crisis or crafty caution?

Image source, Image caption, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal can still win three trophies this season Published 30 minutes ago 163 Comments By Paul Battison BBC Sport journalist With 11 Arsenal players withdrawing from international duty this month, are the Gunners facing an injury crisis or is caution being shown with so much at stake this season? Across the 20 Premier League sides, 228 players were called up for their international sides. Twenty-three of those have since dropped out - and almost half are Arsenal players. Following the Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City earlier this month, defender William Saliba confirmed he would not be joining up with France because of an ankle injury. His centre-back partner Gabriel then withdrew from the Brazil squad with a knee problem. They were later joined by England forward Eberechi Eze (calf), Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard (knee) and Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber (groin) - who all missed the cup final defeat at Wembley through injury - as well as Belgium forward Leandro Trossard (hip). After players joined up with their respective countries, five more from Arsenal have withdrawn - England trio Declan Rice (knock), Bukayo Saka (knock) and Noni Madueke (injured his knee against Uruguay) as well as Spain's Martin Zubimendi (knee) and Ecuador's Piero Hincapie (undisclosed). …