While the Premier League is on a break, players from the league leaders Arsenal get a chance to shine on the biggest stage of them all, the World Cup. Arsenal’s players have been outstanding in the first half of the season, and many of the players are expected to keep up that form at the World Cup. Let’s take a look at how they’ve been getting on.
Bukayo Saka
One of Arsenal’s brightest talents is Buyako Saka. He plays on the right wing for both Arsenal and England, and he’s expected to shine at this World Cup after a great outing at Euro 2020. Saka scored twice in England’s first game against Iran but couldn’t help the Three Lions get on the scoresheet in the second game. He was on the bench as England beat Wales 3-0, but he was back in the squad and on the scoresheet again as England beat Senegal 3-0 in their round-of-16 game. Despite it being his first World Cup, he’s playing like a seasoned vet, and it would be great if England could go all the way and win it with Saka.
Gabriel Jesus
Having recently signed from Premier League rivals Manchester City, Gabriel Jesus has been a key part of Arsenal’s success this season, leading the line for the London-based team. While he may not provide as many goals and assists as you’d expect from a forward, his work rate is immense, and that’s what he brings to the Brazil squad. He’s featured in three of Brazil’s games, coming on as a sub against Serbia and Switzerland and playing just over an hour against Cameroon. However, Jesus will miss the rest of the tournament due to an injury he obtained in the game against Cameroon. While he hasn’t registered any goals or assists for the team, his constant pressing has been a great help to the team in this World Cup.
Aaron Ramsdale
Despite being Arsenal’s number-one goalkeeper this season, Aaron Ramsdale has found it hard to make a similar breakthrough in the England team. He’s currently behind Jordan Pickford in the pecking order but is more than capable of doing the job if called upon. This is Ramsdale’s first appearance in a World Cup squad, and he’ll be hoping to get the nod from the manager later in the tournament.
Gabriel Martinelli
Arguably one of Arsenal’s best performers this year, Martinelli got somewhat of a shock call-up to the Brazil side thanks to the incredible season he’s had so far. He had only made three appearances for the national side before this tournament, and he has featured in two of Brazil’s three group games so far. He came on as a late substitute against Serbia and played the whole game against Cameroon. Brazil topped their group and faced South Korea in the round of 16, where we saw Martinelli featuring once more. Hopefully, we’ll get to see more of him in the quarter-finals against Croatia.
Conclusion
These players are some of the most competitive you’ll see; no matter what game they’re playing, they want to win, whether it’s their first World Cup game, an online live casino game, or just a kickabout with their friends; losing is not an option for them. But who’s going to go all the way to lift the famous trophy on the 18th of December? Time till tell!
