£27m Arsenal star has now withdrawn from Int'l duty with "left ankle injury"

William Saliba has become the latest Arsenal player to withdraw from international duty due to injury.

The Frenchman has been nursing an ankle issue for the last few weeks and has been forced to miss certain games as a result.

Saliba played the full 90 minutes of the 2-0 Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, but the centre-back has now withdrawn from France duty due to a ‘left ankle injury’, as per journalist Fabrice Hawkins.

The 24-year-old has been replaced with Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, who has earned his maiden call-up to the French national team.

Saliba, signed for £27 million from Saint-Etienne, becomes the third Arsenal player to withdraw from international duty in the last few hours.

Jurrien Timber has been nursing a similar ankle concern, and he won’t be reporting with the Netherlands this month either.

The Dutchman has been replaced with Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida in Ronald Koeman’s side for the upcoming friendlies.

Similarly, Newcastle United attacker Harvey Barnes has got the nod in the England squad after Eberechi Eze’s calf injury.

Eze’s absence came as a surprise for the Carabao Cup final.

Manager Mikel Arteta revealed after the game that he will undergo a scan in a week’s time to know the extent of the injury.

Arsenal suffered a huge blow on Sunday. They failed to end their six-year wait for a trophy after a poor outing against Man City.

Still, there is plenty to play for. The club are still alive in three competitions, and the Premier League will be the utmost priority.

The Gunners are nine points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand against Crystal Palace at home.

Arsenal still need to face the Cityzens at the Etihad Stadium and have much work to do to end a two-decade-long wait for the title.

Hence, they can ill-afford any injury risks during the international break.

The right decision has been made to withdraw Saliba, who is a very important player in the heart of the defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.

Eze and Timber are far from fit at the moment, and the international break offers the perfect opportunity to recover from their respective issues.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

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