Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze has been withdrawn from England national football team duty ahead of upcoming international friendlies due to a calf injury, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed.
The 25-year-old was absent from Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the League Cup final, with the injury now set to sideline him for England’s fixtures against Uruguay national football team and Japan national football team at Wembley.
Eze had only recently been included in Thomas Tuchel’s provisional 35-man squad, part of England’s broader preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. His withdrawal represents a setback both for club and country, given his growing influence in attacking areas.
Providing an update, Arteta confirmed the extent of the uncertainty surrounding the injury, noting that further medical assessment will be required in the coming days. The club is expected to conduct additional scans within a week to determine the severity and recovery timeline, with early indications pointing specifically to a calf issue.
Reports in British media suggest that Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes is a leading candidate to replace Eze in the national squad, as England look to finalise their selection ahead of the March fixtures.
