Arsenal sent 15 players to this summer’s World Cup, and more than a third of them have already found the back of the net. But if you’re a Gunners fan hoping your defensive core would carry that club form onto the international stage, you might want to look away.
Let’s start with the guys who are cooking.
Kai Havertz Is Eating. And He’s Not Alone.
Havertz has two goals for France already — a penalty he buried with ice in his veins and a dinked finish that showed off some actual finesse. Only Lionel Messi has more goals in this tournament so far. That’s an elite list to be on, even if it’s early. For a guy who sometimes looks like he’s overthinking it in front of goal at club level, this version of Havertz is sharp, decisive, and frankly a little scary.
Viktor Gyokeres also got on the board for Sweden in their 5-1 demolition of Tunisia. He scored one and set up another while playing up top with Alexander Isak. Nobody on that pitch had more shots than him. That’s the kind of start Sweden needed.
Then there’s Bukayo Saka. The winger started for England against Croatia after there were whispers about his fitness, and he won the penalty that got the Three Lions rolling. He also whipped in a cross that Jude Bellingham nearly turned home. Saka looks dangerous every time he touches the ball.
England’s Set-Piece King Is Doing It Again
Declan Rice has the whole country buzzing about his dead-ball delivery now. He put one corner on a platter for Harry Kane’s goal and probably should have had another assist if Nico O’Reilly could finish. The only worry is he came off with some hamstring and lower back discomfort. That’s something Arsenal will be watching closely.
Ben White, who’s been dealing with that nagging Achilles issue, only made the bench for England’s opener. But once he got on, he looked bright. He played a gorgeous pass to Marcus Rashford for England’s fourth goal and started that whole sequence with a slick turn on the touchline. Impact sub is a role that suits him.
Not Everyone Had a Good Time
Let’s talk about Gabriel. The Brazilian center-back looked shaky against Morocco — maybe the shakiest he’s looked in an Arsenal shirt for a while. He was out of position on Morocco’s goal and seemed a step slow throughout the match. When crosses came into the box he was solid, but isolated defending? Not his day.
Piero Hincapie had it even rougher. Ecuador’s left back was dribbled past four times against Ivory Coast. For context, he got dribbled past only 19 times all season with Arsenal. That’s a brutal stat if you’re counting.
Noni Madueke started for England in a bit of a surprise and while he didn’t score, he was sharp in the box winning the penalty. His crossing was dangerous too. Jude Bellingham nearly turned one of his balls in from six yards out.
Mixed Bags Elsewhere
Martin Odegaard played the full 90 for Norway in their win over Cape Verde. He took in-swinging corners, which is not something he does for Arsenal, and one of them was powered home for Norway’s third goal. Nicolas Jover might be taking notes.
Leandro Trossard started for Belgium on the right wing but wasn’t at his best. He shanked a shot from a cut-back that he’d usually bury, and while he had some nice touches in the buildup, the final product wasn’t there.
Takehiro Tomiyasu came off the bench for Spain against Cape Verde and nearly scored immediately — a shot on the swivel that the keeper saved. Another positive step in his return from a long-term injury.
Who Didn’t Play?
Eberechi Eze, David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, and Gabriel Martinelli were unused subs in their team’s openers. That could change as group play heats up, but for now they’re watching from the bench.
Eleven of Arsenal’s 15 World Cup players got minutes in the first round of matches. Some delivered. Some struggled. And some set-piece taker has the whole country asking him to please keep doing that thing with the corners.
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