The 13 Arsenal players confirmed for international duty as Arteta sweats over Saka and Odegaard

The international break arrives as a much-needed respite for Arsenal, who will be hoping to use the time to get as many of their players fit and ready to play once again.

Since returning after October internationals, matters on-field have taken a turn for the worse. A first defeat of the season at Bournemouth set events in motion as the Gunners would fail to beat Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea on a run of four without victory. A Champions League loss to Inter also left them stranded two points shy of automatic qualification.

Part of the problem has been key players absent through injury. Compiled together at once, problems for Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney since the season began have threatened to damage Arsenal's chances in the title race.

With some of that group returning or having returned from their various issues, they have been selected to represent their respective nations. football.london rounds up the 13 who will be away over the next fortnight, who they will be facing and when they will return...

England

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have both been called up for Lee Carsley's final squad as interim England manager, but this was before both of their recent injuries came to light.

Saka was forced to pull out of the Three Lions squad last month, then during Sunday's draw with Chelsea was removed from the action limping after 80 minutes. Rice was subbed off nine minutes prior, with it revealed he played through the pain of a broken toe.

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If both remain with the national team this break, they will play Greece in Athens on Thursday before travelling back to Wembley to face the Republic of Ireland on Sunday. This is good news for Arteta, as they can return home easily in time for a whole week of Arsenal training.

Norway

Captain Martin Odegaard presents the next injury worry for the boss, as it was during September's international break that he returned with the injury he only returned form last week.

The midfielder is a prominent player for his country too, and his absence has placed them in quite a tricky spot. They lost both October Nations League fixtures he missed, leaving them level on points with Austria and Slovenia in their group heading into two final matches against the latter on Thursday and Kazakhstan on Sunday.

"We’ll see how it turns out. The ankle, the medics and Martin decide this," Stale Solbakken told Norwegian outlet VG of how they will decide the number of minutes Odegaard plays.

Spain

David Raya has again been called up by the European champions having taken a starting spot last month, and again he is joined by Mikel Merino now he has fully put behind him the injury that hampered his start to life in North London.

On Friday they play Denmark, and if that match is won they will confirm their place in next year's Nations League finals. It would also take the pressure off a meeting with the country bottom of their group, Switzerland, on Monday, November 18.

France

Now a nailed-on starter, William Saliba returns to the French national team again this month. Les Bleus have reportedly been rocked this week by Kylian Mbappe's decision to quit the team over a disagreement with manager Didier Deschamps.

But they will have to put that behind them if they are to beat Italy to first place in their Nations League group, and subsequently the finals. First up on Thursday they host Israel, then on Sunday travel to Milan to play would could end up being a decider.

Germany

He pulled out of last month's squad over a small problem but Kai Havertz is set to link up with Germany team-mates this month.

The forward can enjoy a somewhat relaxed international break as Germany are in the driving seat to reach the Nations League finals as it stands. Basically, they only need to avoid defeat against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Saturday plus against Hungary on Tuesday, November 19 to stay ahead of the Netherlands. Victory in one of those matches would secure top spot outright.

Brazil

Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes have a slightly different assignment as they link up with Brazil for World Cup qualification. Past the midway point in that process, A Selecao are continuing their push towards the higher end of the table but are still fourth as things stand.

In November they are scheduled to travel to Venezuela on Thursday, then next Wednesday play Uruguay in Salvador. Arteta might not be best pleased with this, as it would likely mean the duo only return to training two days before the meeting with Nottingham Forest.

Belgium

Leandro Trossard is another sole Gunner away with his national team this break, as he joins up with the Belgium squad. The Red Devils could have a decisive say in the Nations League that team-mate Saliba is competing to win, as they host leaders Italy on Thursday before facing Israel. Due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, that latter fixture is to be played in Budapest.

Netherlands

As mentioned, the Netherlands have one final set of fixtures to steal top spot in their Nations League group from Germany and Jurrien Timber is part of their group. It is entirely out of their hands though as they play Hungary on Saturday then Bosnia & Herzegovina next Tuesday, 19.

Ukraine

Oleksandr Zinchenko may have taken a back seat at Arsenal as other signings have been introduced, but his importance is still great if this injury crisis is going to continue any longer. Arteta will want him to return fit from Ukraine's meetings with Georgia on Saturday and Albania next Tuesday, 19. They sit bottom of their Nations League B group, but could still win the entire thing with only three points splitting all four teams involved.

Poland

Jakub Kiwior is another who isn't guaranteed a place in Arteta's team but when he enters does the job required of him. He has again been called up by the Polish national team, and in November they play Portugal on Friday then Scotland in Warsaw on Monday.