Thomas Tuchel Provides Update as Arsenal Players Join England Camp

Thomas Tuchel has provided an update on England’s Arsenal players after Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze joined up with the squad ahead of the World Cup.

The England head coach was asked about the group before the final warm-up match against Costa Rica, with several Arsenal players arriving later than others after the end of their club season.

Saka’s condition is the one England are still managing most carefully. The winger was involved in training, but Tuchel made clear that his workload is still being built up after an issue he carried from the March international camp into the final weeks of Arsenal’s campaign.

“We still have to take care a little bit about Bukayo, who had an injury in March camp and carried it through into his club campaign,” Tuchel said.

“He was available and made himself available at the end of the season and did this brilliantly, but he was managed in between matches and that continues a little bit at the very moment.

“So we’re building him up.”

Tuchel added that the rest of the Arsenal group are fully available, with Rice, Madueke and Eze all ready to be considered for minutes.

“Noni is 100 per cent available,” Tuchel said. “Declan is 100 per cent available and Ebs as well.

“We’re just coming from training basically. Everyone was involved in training, including Bukayo. Everyone made himself available. So we have full choice and we need to take the decisions now in the afternoon who actually starts and how many minutes we will give to the players.”

That gives England a strong Arsenal presence heading into the tournament, even if Saka’s minutes may still need to be handled with more care than others.

Tuchel also praised the way the Arsenal players have arrived in camp after a demanding end to the season. Mikel Arteta’s side won the Premier League and then lost the Champions League final to PSG on penalties, with several England players having to quickly shift from club disappointment back into tournament preparation.

“They came in very good spirit and they came in very good shape,” Tuchel said. “I feel them proud. I feel them confident.

“They know what they did. They know what it took them to win the title in England, to have this little period where suddenly it was in doubt and they overcame it and managed to win the title. It meant a lot to them.”

Tuchel also pointed to Arsenal’s Champions League final performance, saying the players understood how close they had come against PSG.

“I think they have a clear understanding that they went toe-to-toe with the best team in the world at the moment, with Paris, and they had them,” he said.

“They just lost in a penalty shootout, so they came in best spirits and I’m happy for that.”

Rice was also singled out when Tuchel discussed England’s leadership group. Harry Kane remains captain, but Tuchel described Rice as his “second captain” and explained why he trusts the Arsenal midfielder with that responsibility.

“He is on the highest football IQ,” Tuchel said. “He takes care about formation. He takes care about our structure. He takes care about the adaption, about the rhythm in our game.

“I think he had outstanding two seasons in his personal career. The last two years with Arsenal, he was one of the main players for me in Europe in the Champions League campaigns. One of the very best midfielders in Europe at the very moment, full of confidence, and that’s why he’s my vice-captain.”

England are expected to increase workloads against Costa Rica, with Tuchel saying some players could move beyond 45 minutes and potentially reach 60 or 70 depending on the final decision.

The Arsenal players now have one more opportunity to build rhythm before England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia. Rice, Madueke and Eze are available without restriction, while Saka is training but still being managed carefully as England build him towards the tournament.