My Arsenal Blog

Apart from Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Aaron Ramsdale, who all played their part in England’s 10-goal thrashing of San Marino on Monday, five other Gunners represented their respective countries during this international break, so let’s take a brief look at how they fared.

Norway drew 0-0 at home against Latvia and lost 2-0 away to Netherlands, with Martin Odegaard playing the full 90 minutes on both occasions. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder will have been disappointed with what his team have done, finishing third in Group G behind Netherlands and Turkey. It means they won’t be playing at the World Cup next year.

Portugal Under-21 side faced Cyprus in a double header, with Nuno Tavares playing the full 90 minutes in the first match in Cyprus and 72 minutes in the return fixture in Portugal. His team won both, 0-1 and 6-0, respectively.

Folarin Balogun scored in England Under-21 side’s 3-1 victory over Czech Republic, playing 77 minutes, but he was replaced after only 36 of the subsequent 3-2 defeat to Georgia through injury.

Like Odegaard, Nicolas Pepe also won’t be playing at the tournament in Qatar in 2022. Having beaten Mozambique by 3-0, Ivory Coast lost the top spot in Group D of the African qualifiers through a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, with the Arsenal winger on from the bench for the final quarter of the match.

Japan recorded two 1-0 triumphs this month, first away to Vietnam, and then away to Oman. Tahekiro Tomiyasu played both matches from start to finish as a centre-back for his team, which now sits second to Saudi Arabia in the Third Round Group B.

Kieran Tierney played for Scotland who recorded 2-0 victories away to Moldova and at home against Denmark. The Arsenal left-back completed the full 90 against Moldova and was replaced with three minutes to go against Denmark.

The break is now over and the focus turns to Liverpool. The match set to be played at Anfield on Saturday is likely to prove a stern test for the Gunners’ recently improved form.