Arsenal dealt blow as Leandro Trossard exits international duty with injury

The Gunners have faced a challenging season filled with injuries, as key players have been sidelined, disrupting their progress in the Premier League.

Key duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were withdrawn from England duty due to concerns over their fitness, while Ben White underwent surgery over the break to address a lingering knee issue.

Having only just welcomed Martin Odegaard back to full fitness, Mikel Arteta was hoping to welcome all his key players back from international duty with a clean bill of health.

However, those hopes were scuppered on Sunday when Trossard appeared to pick up a knock in the first half of his country’s Nations League fixture against Israel.

While the exact nature of the injury is unclear, the forward was seen limping off the pitch to be replaced by Johan Bakayoko having received treatment from Belgium’s medical staff.

The 29-year-old also seemed reluctant to join in on attacks prior to his substitution.

Arsenal will hope that the injury is not serious as they gear up for a busy Christmas period on all fronts.

Arteta’s side host Nottingham Forest on Saturday at the Emirates as they look to get back to winning ways and eat into the nine-point difference between themselves and Liverpool at the top of the table.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori and Kieran Tierney were all also sidelined prior to the international break.

On the pitch, it was a frustrating night for Belgium who made it two defeats from two this international break with a 1-0 defeat courtesy of Yarden Shua’s 86th-minute strike.

On Thursday, Belgium lost 2-1 to France, with Trossard playing the full 90 minutes.

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