Another international break has left Arsenal fans nervously anticipating the resumption of the domestic football season.

Following the defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, Mikel Arteta will be desperate to get his side back on track with an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Southampton. Despite the setbacks, Arsenal remains at the top of the Premier League with a nine-point lead and has secured its place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta assembled perhaps the strongest squad in English football last summer to ensure injuries don’t derail their plans, but the current situation raises doubts.

Arsenal could be affected by the absence of key players. Eberechi Eze will be out for up to six weeks due to a calf problem, and the club is also concerned about Noni Madueke, who limped out of Wembley wearing a knee brace after England's 1-1 draw against Uruguay.

The situation is complicated by the absence of William Saliba, who withdrew from the French squad due to an ankle problem, and Gabriel Magalhaes, who withdrew from the Brazilian squad with a knee injury. The situation is aggravated by the absences of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who left the England camp without playing a minute.

Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs, which specializes in injury welfare and performance analytics, commented: 'I don’t think this narrative that clubs are holding players back is fair'. Smith added: 'I think the days of a head coach of a club demanding a player stays are probably long over'.

The precaution taken with Saliba and Gabriel is noteworthy. Any serious injury at this point of the season would be detrimental to Arsenal's hopes of winning the treble, but would also have huge implications for the players' World Cup aspirations.

Smith continued: 'My expectation in scenarios like this is you have management and coaching staff from the French and Brazil teams interacting with the staff at Arsenal'. And as much as the international coaches want access to their players now to get eyeballs on them for the World Cup, they also want to make sure they are available for it.

When there’s any doubt, those conversations will be taking place. They know Arsenal have a very important run in with their coach trying to get those athletes on the pitch as often as he can. I think there is always going to be a push and pull scenario but those teams are working together to ensure the players get through the end of the domestic season and be in the best shape to join up with the World Cup parties and be competitive'.

Players are much more educated and much more informed. They are aware of the demands being placed on them and when they do pick up a knock, they are concerned. They will wonder, 'should I be going away to play two games with my country before going right back in with my club?' Now, they can pick up the phone and talk to the head coaches to say 'this is where I am at and this is where I need support'. It is not a one-way dialogue.

Arsenal has been stung before. They lost Gabriel for 10 games after he picked up a thigh injury playing for Brazil in a friendly in November, one that took place at their own Emirates Stadium to rub salt in the wounds. Saliba, meanwhile, has had ankle issues this season, minor issues managed by the club, but which still resulted in him missing games against Nottingham Forest in August and Brighton in March.