Mikel Arteta and Arsenal will face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals with their backs against the wall. And they'll have to do so without Gabriel, arguably their finest defender. After picking up an injury in their 2-1 Premier League win over Fulham last time out, Gunners fans have received the news they feared. According to the club's official report, the Brazilian international has sustained a hamstring injury that will necessitate surgery. "Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season," the news release stated. "Everyone at the club will be fully focused on supporting Gabi to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible." The club has already experienced numerous injuries this season, including Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Ødegaard, Ricardo Calaf...
We now know the provisional England squad for Euro 2024, which takes place this summer.
Gareth Southgate has named a large 33-man squad, which will be reduced to 26 players before the plane leaves for Germany.
The Three Lions will have one of the most skilled football teams in the tournament, making them a strong contender to win the Henri Delaunay trophy for the first time.That means that many big-name players have missed out on a spot in the team, and some of them may consider themselves unlucky not to be included in the manager's plans. Others have simply not performed well enough.
Southgate's major absences from the England squad for Euro 2024:Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford's form has plummeted this season after scoring 30 goals for Manchester United the previous season. He has only scored eight goals and has battled injuries. Once regarded as a key member of the England team, there is simply too much quality in the wide spaces to accommodate him now.
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson, who left Liverpool last summer in pursuit of a lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia, now finds himself at Ajax with none of that money and no place in England's squad less than a year later. The former captain has suffered a significant decline in reputation.
Reece James
Reece James, one of the most skilled and gifted footballers of his time, has suffered a string of terrible injuries. The right-back returned to Chelsea near the end of the season, but his stint was cut short with a red card against Brighton. There simply wasn't enough time for him to persuade Southgate.
Dominic Solanke
A career-high 19 goals in a Premier League season would ordinarily be enough to get you into the England squad, but Dominic Solanke is still waiting for his second appearance. The writing was on the wall when the Bournemouth striker was not called up for the March internationals, with Southgate instead selecting Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney to back up Harry Kane.
Ben Chilwell
Being a Chelsea full-back means always worrying about injuries. Ben Chilwell is one of England's better choices on the left side of the back four, but he only started nine Premier League games this season.
Jadon Sancho
It's hardly surprising that Jadon Sancho did not make the cut, given that his last England cap was in 2021. However, the winger had hoped that his good performances on loan at Borussia Dortmund would earn him a chance.
Harvey Elliott
This event may have come too soon for Harvey Elliott. The Liverpool teenager has had a breakout season, with three goals and six assists in the Premier League. He only made 11 top-flight starts, which likely kept him from making the step up to international level.
Ben White
We all expected Ben White wouldn't be picked, but it's still surprising that one of the season's top defenders won't be going to Euro 2024. The Arsenal player reportedly fell out with assistant Steve Holland, triggering his early departure from the 2022 World Cup. He has not played for England since.
Levi Colwill
Chelsea hasn't had a fantastic year, but Levi Colwill has been one of the club's best defensive players. The 21-year-old, who can play both centrally and on the left, was largely expected to make the cut. With his absence, Luke Shaw is the sole specialist left-back in the team.
Nick Pope
In this writer's opinion, Nick Pope is the greatest goalkeeper available to Southgate, but a dislocated shoulder in December sidelined him for more than five months. He returned for Newcastle United's final game of the season, but there is simply too much competition in goal for the manager to bring someone who has recently recovered from a significant injury.
Kalvin Phillips
To no one's surprise, Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips did not make the squad. The 28-year-old joined West Ham on loan in January to keep his England hopes alive, but it turned out to be a nightmare for the former Leeds United star.
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling, another player who was once an integral part of Southgate's ambitions, is now on the outside looking in. It's not a stunning omission, given the Chelsea winger has clearly declined over the last two seasons.
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