Arsenal faces scrutiny as 11 players withdrew from international duty amid a critical stretch. The Gunners lead the Premier League by nine points with seven games remaining while pursuing three trophies this season, including their first title in 22 years.

England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed understanding about the situation but insisted he had "no reason to believe" Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were dishonest. Both players wanted to play in Tuesday's friendly against Japan, but medical assessments deemed the risk of aggravating their issues "way too big."

This isn't the first time injuries have plagued Arsenal during international breaks. With Champions League and FA Cup matches approaching, Mikel Arteta's side must balance squad health with their ambitious pursuit of silverware across three competitions.