Alexandre Lacazette isolated by Arsenal call-ups as Mikel Arteta squad puzzle nears conclusion

International football can be a club football fan’s nightmare. The threat of having to wait an additional weekend to see Arsenal play can be a painful time.

Although international football has improved, the main gripe with the mid-season fixtures is the threat of injuries to players that could have a hugely damaging effect on a club’s ambitions for the season. Arsenal will be sitting with fingers crossed that none of their stars face any affliction between now and their return when they head overseas following next weekend's round of fixtures.

Despite this fear, internationals can provide a great experience to players and help further their development. Even at a very young age, players like Karl Hein and Omar Rekik are playing at a senior international level for Estonia and Tunisia respectively.

Gabriel Martinelli joined the group of Gunners internationals when he received his first call-up to the full senior Brazilian national side yesterday alongside Real Madrid stars Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior.

Of the team that started in the 3-2 win over Watford last weekend, only Martinelli had not made his senior international debut outside of the Japan Olympics last year.

Mikel Arteta brought in four full internationals in the summer and with Albert Sambi Lokonga having made his Belgium bow since, that number has now become five.

In the regular Arsenal lineup, Alexandre Lacazette remains the only starting member who is now not playing for their international side. The Frenchman has caps for his country but the rise and consistency of players like Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Wissam Ben Yedder and Olivier Giroud has blocked his path.

Cedric Soares has also not played for Portugal for some time, but Japan international