Arsenal have seen several players pull out of international duty during this break due to injury and fitness concerns.
That has raised many eyebrows, with some pundits suggesting that not all of those withdrawals are genuine.
There is a feeling in some quarters that clubs like Arsenal are protecting their players ahead of a crucial run of games in the business end of the season.
Joe Cole has now had his say, and he believes Mikel Arteta may be following a tactic that Sir Alex Ferguson used when he was the manager of Manchester United.
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Joe Cole says Mikel Arteta has copied a classic Sir Alex Ferguson move
A total of 12 Arsenal first-team players either pulled out of international duty, were sent back home by their national teams, or weren’t selected in the first place due to injuries.
There are suggestions that players may be managing minor issues rather than being completely unfit, and that has enraged certain pundits.
Cole understands why this could be happening, especially with so many important games coming up. The pundit also pointed out that this is not a new idea and has been used successfully in the past – by Ferguson.
Speaking about the situation, Cole said on The Dressing Room podcast: “Let’s read this. We need to address it. We’re going to call this out: Eze, Saka, Rice, Saliba, Gabriel, Zubimendi, Timber, Trossard, Madueke, Hincapie… Everyone is injured?
“Come on, if you’re going to do a move like this, Arteta, don’t strong it. Come on, mate! There’s no way.
“How many of them do we think are actually injured? It will be a tight calf, a sore back, all of these negotiations take place.
“Players are constantly carrying a knock, and you see an England friendly. Some of them players, Declan knows he’s going to the World Cup, and Saka knows he’s going to the World Cup. They’re thinking: ‘There are so many important games.’
“I understand it. You might have a niggle, but you could play, but you’re trying to freshen yourselves up. But when it’s that many people…
“Alex Ferguson used to do it (at Manchester United).”
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Arsenal cannot withdraw players from international duty on their own
Arsenal are not the only ones making these decisions; national teams also have a say on whether players are fit enough to play.
Before any player is withdrawn, medical staff from both club and country assess their condition. FIFA regulations state that clubs cannot simply block players from international duty without valid medical reasons. (Goal)
That shows these decisions are not made lightly and usually involve agreement from all parties, which means people blaming Arsenal are very wrong.
The most important thing, however, is the health of the players, especially at such a crucial stage of the season.
Giving them sufficient rest now can reduce the risk of serious injuries and help them perform better in the final months – not just for their clubs but also for their countries in the World Cup this summer.
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