Arsenal players at the Euros; Arsenal players not at the Euros. « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger; coach of the decade
By Tony Attwood
May 29 is deadline day for the Euro squads – although we seem to be well into the season of pre-tourney issue of warnings about what might happen if you go. (The latest warning is utterly shameful in my view – in that it overtly admits that the games are being held in a homophobic country – just as the world cup will be in a few years.) Mind you, whatever your orientation or race it is probably safer to stay at home.
But to focus on the football, there will probably be 10 of our players risking life and limb this summer for their countries.
Now, by the time of the event not all 10 will necessarily still be with us, and on the other hand one or two who currently are not Arsenal players might have been transferred by the time they play.
However here is the list thus far…
Lukas Podolski is naturally in the Germany squad along with Per Mertesacker
Niklas Bendtner equally naturally plays for Denmark
Robin van Persie again must be just about the first name in the Netherlands squad
Tomas Rosicky plays for the Czech Republic – I remember just after we signed him he scored a sensational goal for his country.
Audrey Arshavin has been included in Russia’s preliminary 27-man side – I can’t find many people who think he will be with us next season though.
Laurent Koscielny, is in the France squad – the only Arsenal player to be playing for France will feels rather strange and shows just how the world is changing.
Theo Walcott is in the England squad as has
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain which is something of a surprise – a bit like Theo going to the world cup with Sven. (Remember when Rooney came off the pitch really annoyed and thumped down next to Theo on the bench, and Theo looked petrified and inched away from him… Can’t see Alex doing that – more likely he’d tell Rooney to move up).
Wojciech Szczesny is in the Poland side but I don’t know if he is expected to be the prime keeper or whether that position goes to…
Lukasz Fabianski.
So, by the time the teams come out for the opening game, we might have just the following players on our books
- Lukas Podolski
- Per Mertesacker
- Robin van Persie
- Tomas Rosicky
- Laurent Koscielny
- Theo Walcott
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
- Wojciech Szczesny
- Lukasz Fabianski.
And finally the missing men who might have been there but for events
- Abou Diaby – highly rated in France, but of course without any playing time this season
- Bacary Sagna – broken leg
- Thomas Vermaelen – Belgium did not qualify
- Aaron Ramsey – Wales did not qualify
- Jack Wilshere – as with Diaby
- Kieran Gibbs – not selected
- Francis Coquelin – one year too early I suspect
There is more news minute by minute on the Euro 2012 news site