England manager Thomas Tuchel has granted additional time off to four Arsenal players included in his World Cup roster. According to reports from Sky Sports, the majority of the 26-man squad will assemble in Florida on Monday evening to kick off their pre-tournament preparations. However, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze will report later than their teammates.
The decision stems from their participation in the recent Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Tuchel believes the extra rest will help them recover fully before joining the camp. Alongside these four, Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who clinched the UEFA Europa Conference League title, will also enjoy a delayed arrival.
As a result, this group is expected to sit out the warm-up fixture against New Zealand later this week. Nonetheless, they are anticipated to be match-ready for the following friendly against Costa Rica. The move underscores Tuchel’s focus on player welfare as England aims to mount a strong World Cup challenge.