SOCCER: Arsenal's Eze out of England friendlies due to calf injury

Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze will miss England’s upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan due to a calf injury, with Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes tipped as a possible replacement. The injury adds to England’s squad concerns ahead of World Cup preparations.

Reuters

March 23, 2026

Soccer Football - Carabao Cup - Final - Arsenal v Manchester City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 22, 2026 Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus and Eberechi Eze look dejected after losing the Carabao Cup Final to Manchester City

Matthew Childs/Reuters

Arsenal's Eberechi Eze will miss England's friendlies against Uruguay and Japan due to a calf injury, manager Mikel Arteta said on Sunday, after the attacking midfielder sat out their 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the League Cup final.

Eze had been named in Thomas Tuchel's 35-man squad on Friday for matches against Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27 and Japan at the same venue four days later as part of England's preparations for the World Cup.

"No, he's out," Arteta told reporters when asked if Eze would be fit for international duty. "We have to do another scan in six or seven days and wait and see the results. It is a leg injury. His calf."

British media have reported that Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes may replace Eze in the England squad.

-Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters