How Arsenal’s Players Will Fare at Euro 2024

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In Jay Asher’s hit 2007 novel which would later be dramatized by Netflix, there are 13 Reasons Why the main protagonist Hannah Baker chooses to take an earth shattering decision.

Perhaps if Asher were to chronicle Arsenal’s season and attempt to answer why the Gunners were pipped to the post by Manchester City he would entitle the resultant book 115 Reasons Why…

Fortunately there is a European Championship to distract us from what ifs and what could have beens this summer and from an Arsenal perspective, there is plenty to keep an eye on. In this article we look at some of the players in Mikel Arteta’s squad who will be looking to make their mark in Germany.

England: Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka

Had it not been for Ben White’s rather public falling out with the England coaching staff and Eddie Nketiah’s underwhelming season there could have been 5 Arsenal representatives in Gareth Southgate’s squad.

As it is there are just three Gunners players in the squad and only 2 of them are likely to be on the pitch when England take on Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16^th. That’s because Aaron Ramsdale is likely to find himself in the familiar role of back-up ‘keeper with Jordan Pickford Southgate’s likely Number One.

Outfield however England will have two Arsenal superstars, with Declan Rice most likely to be employed as a holding 6 and Bukayo Saka as an inside forward. The former will have his hands full as he provides defensive stability to allow the more forward minded Kobbie Mainoo and Jude Bellingham to advance up the pitch.

Offensively Saka will be looking to get in on the goal scoring action by continuing his profitable on-pitch relationship with former Spurs striker Harry Kane.

If he rekindles that relationship successfully Saka could be a good outside bet to win the Golden Boot. Currently the Arsenal wide man is 28/1 in the Euro 2024 top scorer odds.

(Saka could be the real difference for England in Germany this summer.)

Germany: Kai Havertz

Whether the German fans will be singing “60 Millionen Pfund den Bach runter, Kai Havertz trifft erneut!” to the tune of Shakira’s Waka Waka song remains to be seen this summer. If the Arsenal man can translate his club form to international level though the German fans will definitely be serenading him with a song of their own.

Havertz has notched 14 goals and 7 assists in his 51 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions this season and will be looking to add to his international tally when his country opens the tournament against Scotland on June 14^th.

France: William Saliba

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to Arsenal fan and French football expert Phillipe Auclair on The Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast you’ll be aware that the French view Gareth Southgate as an exponent of free-flowing attacking football in comparison to their own coach Didier Deschamps.

Safety first is very much the mantra of the current French manager and for that reason he doesn’t like William Saliba. The Arsenal man takes too many risks on the ball for his liking which is why this summer Les Blues will most likely leave the best centre-back in world football on the bench.

(Alongside Gabriel, Saliba has been sensational for Arsenal this season but unfortunately he looks set to spend his summer warming the French bench.)

Ukraine: Oleksandr Zinchenko

Last season was not one to remember for Zinchenko and, if reports are to be believed, we might not see him in an Arsenal shirt again. Before any transfers can be wrangled though Zinchenko will be representing his country at Euro 2024, most likely operating from the base of the midfield.

Poland: Jakub Kiwior

The young Poles cameo at Anfield last season didn’t exactly fill fans with confidence but since then – barring the Bayern Munich game – Kiwior has come into his own at Arsenal and is now a starter for his country.

Belgium: Leandro Trossard

His knack for scoring crucial goals led to comparisons with Freddie Ljungberg towards the end of the season. His country will be hoping that he can continue that habit into the summer but who’s the Belgium equivalent of Ljungberg?

(Any excuse to watch Freddie Ljungberg’s Arsenal goals again and to see that sensational Dreamcast shirt.)

Italy: Jorginho

It’s crazy to think that a beleaguered Italy squad are going into this tournament as the reigning champions considering their total implosion since that July night at Wembley in 2021.

If they are to go deep in this summer’s competition they will need stability and calm heads and in Arsenal’s Jorginho, they’ll get a generous helping of both of those qualities.

Spain: David Raya

The shadow of Iker Casillas has hung heavy over the head of Spanish goalkeepers since his retirement from international football. Currently the error prone Unai Simon is the Spanish Number One but considering his performances for Arsenal this season, perhaps David Raya should be the man between the posts for Spain this summer.

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