Which Arsenal players will make England’s Euro 2024 squad?

The 2024 European Championship is rapidly approaching, with Germany gearing up to host one of the most hotly anticipated tournaments of the year.

The stage is set for the 17th edition of the competition to commence on the 14th of June, and all that remains is for managers of qualified teams to select their competitive squad.

England are heavily fancied as one of the favourites to win the competition and will back themselves to bring it home after blitzing through the qualifier campaign.

Gareth Southgate’s side will be eager to put the horrors of the 2020 final defeat to Italy behind them. 

They’ve already had their fair share of revenge against the Italians during the qualifiers. Now it’s time to back up their credentials on one of the biggest stages in international football.

It will undoubtedly be broadcast live, but if you’re looking for a more palpable experience, you can buy EURO 2024 tickets from Seatsnet.com and book your trip to Germany in advance.

As we anticipate the upcoming tournament, we’ve decided to predict which Arsenal players will earn a spot in Southgate’s highly competitive squad.

While a couple of Gunners stars are already guaranteed a spot in the manager’s squad – barring any injury setbacks – a handful of others may have to fight tooth and nail to earn a call-up to the national team.

England’s qualifier campaign

The Euro 2024 is one of the must-watch football spectacles for those in the UK, and for good reason – England booked their place in the Euro 2024 tournament early, boasting an unbeaten record from a tricky qualifier group that featured Ukraine and defending champions Italy.

The Three Lions won six of their eight qualifier fixtures, including home and away victories against the architects of their 2020 heartbreak, Italy.

A 2-1 victory over the gli Azzurri at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples kickstarted a rampaging campaign for Southgate’s troops, who subsequently bagged three consecutive wins by a combined 14-0 scoreline.

England’s rampant four-match winning streak was halted by Ukraine on matchday five as Manchester City captain Kyle Walker and Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw in Poland.

However, they wasted no time returning to winning ways, securing back-to-back victories over Italy and Malta, which came after friendly wins against Scotland and Australia.

England dropped the curtain on their Euro 2024 qualifier with a 1-1 draw against North Macedonia, constituting their most disappointing performance and result of the campaign.

However, their emphatic performance during the qualifier solidifies their position as one of the early favourites to go all the way in Germany as England pursue their maiden triumph in the competition.

Which Arsenal players performed for England at the qualifiers?

Bukayo Saka was England’s highest-rated performer at the qualifiers with 7.60 after racking up four goals and two assists.

His goal tally was only bettered by Bayern Munich marksman Harry Kane, who bagged eight goals, while only the England captain had more goal contributions (10) than Saka (6). 

Saka made the team of the week twice and created three big chances for England while averaging 1.1 key passes per 90 minutes.

The Arsenal superstar recorded a 60% success rate in dribbles and won 59% of his ground duels, displaying remarkable athleticism and work rate for his nation.

Declan Rice also played a crucial role in England’s qualifier campaign, although he failed to cross the 7.00 average rating threshold.

However, his performance cannot be swept under the rug, with the Arsenal star establishing himself as a vital cog in Southgate’s midfield setup.

Rice anchored the midfield, averaging 69.3 touches per 90. He maintained a 92% pass accuracy and an 80% success rate with long passes without neglecting his defensive responsibilities.

The 25-year-old averaged 0.8 interceptions, 1.4 tackles, 5.3 ball recoveries, and one clearance per match while winning 58% of his ground duels and recording a remarkable 80% success rate in aerial battles.

Rice may not have been England’s highest-performing player, but he certainly did enough to establish himself as an undroppable component of Southgate’s starting line-up.

Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah were familiar faces in the England squad, but they failed to make an appearance in the qualifiers – although they featured in the friendly games against Scotland and Australia.

Which players have performed for Arsenal this season?

Unlike last season when he took the Premier League by storm, notching 14 goals and 11 assists, Saka’s output has taken a significant nosedive this season.

The 22-year-old has struggled to reach his usual heights. He has missed more big chances this season (7) than he managed in the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign (3).

Nonetheless, the youngster has still hit double figures for goal contributions this season, netting six times and assisting six in 19 Premier League appearances.

Despite enduring a seemingly slow campaign, Saka is still Arsenal’s highest-rated player in the Premier League this season, creating ten big chances and averaging 2.6 key passes per 90.

His reduced output has been one of the major contributors to Arsenal’s faltering title challenge, with the Gunners sitting five points adrift of pacesetters Liverpool.

Amidst Arsenal’s struggles, Rice has also emerged as a standout performer, proving he is worth every penny of the £105 million the Gunners forked out to lure him away from West Ham United last summer.

He has returned three goals and an assist, creating two big chances while averaging 0.8 key passes per 90.

His defensive stats have also been impressive, averaging 1.5 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 5.1 ball recoveries, and 1.7 clearances per 90 while recording a 58% success rate in ground battles.

Ben White has also been impressive for Arsenal this season, establishing himself as a core part of Mikel Arteta’s backline that has conceded just 20 goals this season – only Liverpool have shipped in fewer (18).

Ramsdale has struggled for game time this season, with Arteta favouring David Raya as the first-choice goalkeeper, while Nketiah has struggled in the final third this season.

Which Arsenal players will make Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad?

Barring any unforeseen injury setbacks, Rice and Saka should be guaranteed a place in Southgate’s squad, considering they are likely to play a crucial role in England’s lofty ambitions.

With Chelsea captains Reece James and Ben Chilwell struggling for form and fitness, White could also earn a call-up after putting in several strong shifts for Arsenal this season.

Although he wouldn’t be holding his breath with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, and Walker ahead in the pecking order.

Unless there’s a drastic turn of events in Ramsdale’s situation, his place in the Euro 2024 squad is under considerable threat. The same can be said for Nketiah, who has been forced to play second fiddle to Gabriel Jesus. 

Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson haven’t done enough to force their way into Southgate’s plans and are likely to watch the Euros from their respective homes.