Arsenal players heading to the 2024 European Championship tournament
The 2024 European Championship is around the corner, and it promises to be an enthralling spectacle, with several Arsenal players set to take the tournament by storm.
From the opening clash between the hosts and their rivals to the potential group of death, these players will trudge fearlessly for glory in Germany.
As the anticipation builds, many fans are eager to see their favourite Arsenal stars perform on the biggest international stage. If you’re one of them, buy EURO 2024 tickets at seatsnet.com to cheer them on and witness the best of Europe battle it out for continental glory.
With the tournament fast approaching, we look at Arsenal’s contingent at Euro 2024 and the challenges they have to scale in their bid to claim the continental prize.
Group A
Kai Havertz (Germany) and Kieran Tierney (Scotland) are poised to face off in Group A of Euro 2024.
The hosts, Germany, are eyeing a first continental title in nearly three decades, and Havertz is expected to play a pivotal role for Julian Nagelsmann’s men.
After an outstanding debut season in North London, bagging 13 goals and eight assists in 37 Premier League appearances, the 24-year-old would be keen on replicating that terrific form on home soil.
Havertz can fill several roles for Die Mannschaft. He can lead the line in the centre-forward role or invert as one of the inside forwards. The former Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea man can even operate in midfield.
Havertz is a potent weapon that Nagelsmann must maximise as he looks to lift his first trophy as head coach of the national team.
While Havertz finds himself striving for a place in Nagelsmann’s starting line-up, Tierney is a firm fixture for Steve Clarke’s Scotland side, typically playing on the left side of the three-man backline.
The 26-year-old and the rest of the team must play out of their skin if the Tartan army wants to advance to the next round ahead of Hungary and group favourites Germany and Switzerland.
The stage is set for a captivating encounter between Havertz and Tierney as Germany and Scotland kick off the tournament on June 14.
Group B
Group B promises a thrilling clash of favourites as Spain’s David Raya and Italy’s Jorginho go head-to-head.
Raya found himself firmly behind Unai Simon in the pecking order under former manager Luis Enrique.
However, new coach Luis de la Fuente has alternated between the two goalkeepers. Raya’s confidence is high after keeping 16 clean sheets in the Premier League and impressing in his debut campaign for the Gunners.
The 28-year-old is much better than Simon with his feet and equally more proactive at claiming crosses, which could give him an edge, although the Athletic Bilbao man is the better shot-stopper.
Raya will be desperate to earn De La Fuente’s trust ahead of the tournament and earmark a place in Spain’s starting eleven.
Meanwhile, Jorginho is Italy’s ever-present tempo-setter in the centre. He provides midfield control for the Azzurri, and that quality is crucial for new manager Luciano Spalletti.
Jorginho played a key role in Arsenal’s title challenge and will play a similar part in Italy’s bid to retain their European crown.
The Azzurri start their tournament on June 15 against Albania before Jorginho and Raya face off on June 20.
Group C
Group C of Euro 2024 opens another chapter in England’s long-awaited quest for continental glory.
Three Arsenal stars, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice, carry the nation’s hopes as they face Serbia, Slovenia, and Denmark.
England have never won the continental prize, but this group represents their best chance of ending their 58-year wait for a title.
Ramsdale played second fiddle to Raya for much of the 2023/24 season and is expected to play a backup role for Gareth Southgate’s men in Germany.
Southgate trusts Jordan Pickford between the sticks, leaving Dean Henderson, James Trafford, and Ramsdale to play support roles.
Further up the pitch, Declan Rice is a mainstay in midfield, anchoring proceedings and screening the defence. He is one of the best in this role, proving his mettle in a stellar debut season with the Gunners.
Rice joined from West Ham United last summer, signing for £105 million and has been a terrific addition for the Gunners. The 25-year-old has added steel and a physical presence in Arsenal’s midfield, adeptly replacing Granit Xhaka.
He also contributed goals, bagging seven and providing eight assists in 38 league appearances – a career-best return.
Joining them is Arsenal talisman Saka, who is another trusted lieutenant in Southgate’s army.
He led the team with 16 goals and nine assists (15 big chances created) as the Gunners finished second in the league and will want to carry that form into the summer showpiece.
Saka will be eager to make up for his penalty miss at the Euro 2020 final by helping England take one step further.
Group D
William Saliba (France) and Jakub Kiwior (Poland) find themselves in the potential group of death alongside the Netherlands and Austria.
Saliba has arguably been the best centre-back in the Premier League over the past year, helping the Gunners keep 18 clean sheets.
However, France boss Didier Deschamps still rates the injury-prone Ibrahima Konate over the Arsenal man.
Saliba must find a way to break into Deschamps’ starting XI at this tournament, hopefully establishing himself as the manager’s first-choice right-sided centre-back.
On the other hand, Kiwior has been a regular for Michal Probierz’s Poland, lining up on the left side of the defence. He may be on the fringes at Arsenal, but he is expected to play a crucial role for his national team.
Poland came into the tournament the hard way, qualifying through the play-offs. They will be determined to shock the world by causing upsets in this seemingly difficult group.
Group E
Another set of Arsenal players clash in Group E with Leandro Trossard of Belgium up against Oleksandr Zinchenko’s Ukraine.
Trossard was an unheralded hero in Arsenal’s season, coming up with massive goals when the stakes were high. He was Mikel Arteta’s go-to man from the bench when the Spaniard needed to turn things around.
Trossard is expected to take on a more prominent role for coach Roberto Martinez in Germany. He can feature on the left and right side of the attack and even offer something different through the middle.
Belgium have been overwhelmingly mediocre at their last two tournament outings, and Martinez needs stars like Trossard to turn that narrative around.
Zinchenko takes on more responsibility with Ukraine, playing further forward in midfield. The former Manchester City man can help Serhiy Rebrov’s side make a deep run in the tournament.
They crashed out in the group stage at Euro 2012, which they hosted, finishing dead last in their Euro 2016 group before delivering their best-ever performance at Euro 2020.
Ukraine will back themselves to emerge from Group E ahead of Slovakia and Romania before regrouping for the stern tests that await in the knockout rounds.
