Tuchel turns to Arsenal core as England gear up for September tests
Four Arsenal names made the cut as Thomas Tuchel unveiled his first September picks for England’s senior roster. Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and teenage defender Myles Lewis-Skelly all received the call for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. For Arsenal, it’s a snapshot of where their squad stands right now: one established leader, two new faces pushing through, and a fast-tracked talent getting a major nod.
Rice was never really in doubt. He’s been one of England’s go-to players for years and remains vital for club and country. Expect him to anchor midfield, set the tempo, and handle the messy parts of the game that let others play. With England wanting control in both fixtures, his job is simple to say and hard to do: win the ball, move it quickly, and keep everyone calm.
Eze’s inclusion is eye-catching. He’s only just bedding in after his summer move to Arsenal, but his profile is exactly what Tuchel tends to like: press-resistant, able to carry the ball through the middle, and dangerous around the box. Even if his club minutes aren’t heavy yet, his ability to break a press and glide past markers gives England a different gear, especially against a low block like Andorra’s.
Madueke benefits from a clear opening on the right flank with Bukayo Saka sidelined. He offers a direct threat, cuts inside to shoot, and can stretch defenses by staying wide. Tuchel needs someone to keep full-backs honest and isolate defenders one-on-one. Madueke ticks those boxes and could see solid minutes in the first game at Wembley, where England will pin Andorra back and look to create overloads.
Lewis-Skelly is the wildcard. A teenage defender stepping into senior international camp is a statement from the manager: pathway matters, and training levels can outweigh age. He was already seen inside Arsenal circles as the academy player most likely to jump the queue. For England, his inclusion signals a willingness to freshen up the defensive pool and expose young players to top-level preparation weeks before they’re asked to handle bigger club moments.
- Declan Rice — midfield anchor, organizer, first name on the team sheet.
- Eberechi Eze — ball-carrier and creator between the lines, a twist England can use when the game slows.
- Noni Madueke — direct winger, gives width and one-v-one threat, especially with Saka out.
- Myles Lewis-Skelly — teenage defender, accelerated into camp for exposure and depth.
Behind the selections sits a practical theme. Tuchel looks like he’s balancing rhythm and risk: keep the core steady with Rice, reward upside with Eze and Madueke, and future-proof the back line by bringing Lewis-Skelly up to speed early. If that mix looks familiar, it’s because smart international squads do this every cycle—blend dependable starters with high-ceiling options who can change a game or a season.
There’s a flip side: who’s missing. Saka is out for up to four weeks, which takes a guaranteed starter off the board. His absence forces England into a different right-sided plan and leaves Arsenal without their most reliable outlet during a key run of fixtures. Ben White is also out, still managing a knock that puts his availability for Arsenal’s meeting with Liverpool in doubt. For England, that trims flexibility in the back line and opens space for younger options to get a look.
Then there are the near-misses. Ethan Nwaneri remains with the youth teams, which makes sense—he’s developing at pace, but the senior jump is steep and England can be patient. Max Dowman’s lively Premier League debut turned heads, yet it’s early to throw him into a World Cup qualifying window. Reiss Nelson, short on recent competitive minutes, also stays out for now. None of these are closed doors; they’re timing calls.
Tuchel’s framework for this window should be simple. England will see most of the ball against Andorra at Wembley, and that’s where carriers like Eze earn their keep. Expect heavy possession, full-backs high, and waves of pressure. That’s also a clean game to bed in combinations and, if the scoreline allows, to give debuts without tossing players into chaos.
Serbia away is a different animal. It’s physical, loud, and the margin for error is thin. England will need experienced heads to manage the middle third, which points to big minutes for Rice across both matches. Set pieces matter more in tight games, so calm deliveries and second-ball reactions will decide a lot. If Tuchel wants control, two deeper midfielders with one free eight may be the plan; if he wants punch, he might push a creator higher and trust his center-backs to handle transitions.
Where do the Arsenal four fit? Rice starts—twice, if his legs allow. Eze could start one and come off the bench in the other. Madueke feels lined up for significant time against Andorra, with a role off the bench in Serbia. Lewis-Skelly is more likely to learn through the camp rhythm, meetings, and training intensity, and maybe see the field if the first game opens up.
This window also shapes the group picture. England sit top, ahead of Greece, and need to protect that cushion. Take care of business at home, avoid problems on the road, and the path stays clean. Drop cheap points and the qualifying math gets awkward fast. Two solid results here quiet noise and give Tuchel time to refine his patterns before the schedule tightens.
From Arsenal’s perspective, it’s a mixed bag. International minutes help sharpness and confidence, especially for new signings still gelling at club level. But there’s risk—added workload and the dreaded training-ground strain. With Liverpool looming, the club will want everyone back in one piece and ready to go. That’s the constant dance in September: country needs results, club needs availability.
The dates are locked: Andorra at Wembley on Saturday, September 6, then Serbia away on Tuesday, September 9. Camp time is short, so sessions will be intense and focused on set plays, rest-defense shape, and quick patterns in the final third. That favors players who learn fast and slot into instructions without fuss—another reason Rice remains central and why Eze and Madueke are intriguing tools to deploy on cue.
One last note on the bigger picture: this isn’t just a roll call; it’s a signal. Tuchel’s first September choices tell players across the league that form matters, profiles matter, and there’s room for bold calls if you fit the plan. For the four from Arsenal, it’s a chance to lock down roles, win trust, and carry that momentum back to north London.
For now, the headline is simple: the England squad is leaning on Arsenal’s spine and sparkle. If the group lead is still intact after Belgrade, these September picks will look like the right blend of steady hands and fresh legs.
What to watch for in both games
- Rice’s control in midfield, especially in Serbia when the tempo turns scrappy.
- Eze’s ability to break lines against a deep block and create shots without overcomplicating things.
- Madueke’s decision-making in the final third—when to beat a man, when to release early.
- How Tuchel rotates the back line and whether Lewis-Skelly gets his first taste of senior international minutes.
- Set pieces at both ends. They’re often the difference in qualifiers that look routine on paper but aren’t.