Manchester City and Arsenal are among the Premier League clubs facing challenges at the start of the new season due to the significant involvement of their players in recent international competitions. Both clubs had a notable concentration of players who advanced deep into the World Cup, leading to concerns about fatigue and potential injuries.
Manchester City's World Cup contingent included Rodri, who played 726 minutes for Spain. Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson were part of the England squad that reached the final weekend of the tournament, while Nico O'Reilly also featured in England's semi-final run. Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku reached the quarter-finals with their respective nations.
Arsenal also saw considerable World Cup participation. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were involved until England's third-place play-off, while Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino reached the final with Spain. William Saliba was part of the French squad that competed in the third-place play-off. Noni Madueke's tournament ended after the quarter-finals with England, and Martin Odegaard captained Norway to the quarter-finals.
The physical demands of extended tournament play are already manifesting. Rodri recently underwent back surgery and is expected to miss the initial period of the season. Saliba, though avoiding surgery, will be sidelined for an "extended period" due to a back issue. While these setbacks cannot be solely attributed to the World Cup, they highlight the intense physical toll on players within an increasingly demanding football calendar.
These clubs may begin the campaign without key players having had a full pre-season preparation, potentially impacting their early season performance. The workload placed on these international stars underscores the challenges clubs face in managing player fitness amidst global tournaments and a packed schedule.