Injury blow as another Arsenal star withdraws from international duty
Premier League leaders Arsenal have been dealt another injury setback after Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi withdrew from international duty due to a knee concern.
The 27-year-old was forced to cut short his involvement with Spain national football team and return to North London as a precautionary measure, ruling him out of the scheduled international fixture against Egypt.
According to the Spanish Football Federation, the decision was taken to safeguard the player’s fitness and avoid aggravating the issue.
Zubimendi’s early return will allow Arsenal’s medical team to assess the extent of the injury ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
Manager Mikel Arteta will be particularly concerned given the midfielder’s importance since his summer move from Real Sociedad.
The Spaniard has quickly established himself as a key figure in the squad, contributing six goals and three assists in 44 appearances across all competitions, while adapting impressively to the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League.
In total, he has logged 3,575 minutes across all competitions, including 2,605 in the Premier League, 681 in the Champions League, 270 in the EFL Cup, and 19 in the FA Cup.
The latest setback compounds a growing injury crisis at the club following the international break with key players including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Noni Madueke have all returned early from international duty with fitness concerns.
They join an expanding list of absentees such as Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, Leandro Trossard, and Jurrien Timber, who also withdrew earlier.
Additionally, defender Piero Hincapié returned to the club after sustaining an injury during Ecuador’s clash with Morocco.
With a demanding schedule ahead, Arteta will be hoping several players recover in time as Arsenal prepare to resume their campaigns in the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League.
Stats from Sofascore
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