England are heading into the World Cup in fine form.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has been quick to highlight the role the Arsenal players have played in it.
A 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in England’s final warm-up match on Wednesday night provided the perfect platform ahead of their tournament opener against Croatia on 17 June.
Gunners midfielder Declan Rice opened the scoring after just 10 minutes, with a left-footed finish inside the box.
Anthony Gordon doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Eberechi Eze’s shot was blocked by a handball, before Ollie Watkins rounded off the win in the second half, pouncing on a rebound after Morgan Rogers struck from range.
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Speaking after the game, Tuchel was clear about the Arsenal players particularly deserving credit.
“We could see the impact of the Arsenal players coming into camp, and could also see the impact of training, of course, the adaptation to the heat, the adaptation to the climate.
“We see things clicking but we demanded it today from the players — take the next step. And they did. That was what we wished for, and the players delivered.”
All four Arsenal players in the squad were involved on the night. Rice and Noni Madueke started, while Eze and Bukayo Saka came on directly replacing them after around 60 minutes.
Tuchel clearly sees the Premier League champions’ winning mentality as something he wants to filter through his entire squad.
Arsenal’s fingerprints are all over England’s performance vs Costa Rica
The Arsenal players had joined up late after the Champions League final, but Tuchel has now integrated each of them.
Rice, who Tuchel describes as having the ‘highest football IQ’, looked immediately up to speed, scoring early and stamping control on the game.
Madueke had a bright showing — constant runs in behind, pressing relentlessly and troubling the Costa Rica full-back throughout.
He did miss a sitter though, when Jude Bellingham played him through on goal; he rounded the goalkeeper perfectly, only to see his shot at an open goal strike the post. He is confident he will convert those chances when the tournament begins.
Eze, brought on in Rice’s place, excelled in the left eight role — a position Mikel Arteta has not quite fully trusted him in at Arsenal.
His combination with Saka and Rogers was fluid and exciting, perhaps a glimpse of what next season could look like if Rogers completes his anticipated move to the Emirates.
Saka, meanwhile, remains a slight concern. Roy Keane, on punditry duty for ITV, suggested the Arsenal winger has lost some of his spark and is not taking on players with the same effect as before.
Tuchel has admitted he is still not fully fit after playing through injury during Arsenal’s run-in, which only strengthens the case for Madueke’s importance to this England squad.
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