Arsenal fans label it a 'joke' as Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are named in England starting XI again... one day after Martin Odegaard's injury added to early season problems

  • England host Finland at Wembley in the Nations League on Tuesday night
  • Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice started for the second time in three days 
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Arsenal fans were far from impressed when England's starting XI for Tuesday's Nations league clash with Finland was announced on Tuesday night.

The Gunners received more bad news on Monday night with captain Martin Odegaard injuring his ankle while playing for Norway against Austria.

New signing Mikel Merino was sidelined for up to two months after suffering a shoulder injury in his first training session while Declan Rice will be suspended for Sunday's north London derby after a controversial second yellow card against Brighton.


Arsenal face Man City away from home the following Sunday and the club cannot afford to lose any more first team players.

And the fanbase had a collective groan as Rice and Bukayo Saka were named to start for England for the second time in the space of three days.

Bukayo Saka started again for England against Finland
Declan Rice also started for the second time in three days

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice started for England after playing 90 minutes on Saturday

Martin Odegaard picked up a worrying ankle during Norway's clash with Austria on Monday

Martin Odegaard picked up a worrying ankle during Norway's clash with Austria on Monday

Both were in the starting XI for Saturday's 2-0 win over Ireland, playing the full 90 minutes.

Supporters had clearly been hoping that Saka in-particular would get a rest on Tuesday night but that wasn't the case.

'Saka staring again!!!!!', wrote one. 'If he gets injured there will be war'.

Another posted on X: 'why starting Rice and Saka after Odegaard injury yesterday? We have a derby ffs.'

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'Saka starting again? Give the lad a break,' wrote one while another fan asked if England had brought any other players on international duty.' 

Many labelled manager Lee Carsley's decision a 'joke' and they'll have their fingers crossed that neither Rice or Saka suffers the same fate as Odegaard.