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Arsenal fans want Gareth Southgate's head after the England boss picked both Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka to start against North Macedonia.
Southgate made six changes to the side that beat Malta 2-0 at Wembley on Friday, with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Jack Grealish and a debuting Rico Lewis being handed starts. Rotation was expected given that England have already qualified for next year's Euros, and concerned Gunners fans took to social media to ask why Rice and Saka have been risked, particularly following pre-match reports of an unsafe playing surface in Skopje.
"Why has Southgate started both Rice and Saka. We're f***ed if either of them get injured," one fan raged on X. Another said: "Saka and Rice both start. Why? It's a dead rubber."
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"After seeing pics of the pitch I'm seriously worried about our boys tonight," a third Arsenal fan wrote. A fourth commented: "You just know Saka or Declan are twisting an ankle tonight don't you."
Kyle Walker is captaining the side in the absence of Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson, both of whom made the bench, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has been given the nod again in midfield. Meanwhile Cole Palmer, who made his England debut on Friday, is once again on the bench, as is fellow emergency call-up Ezri Konsa.
What changes would you make to Southgate's line-up? Let us know in the comments section below.
Elsewhere, Harry Maguire and Marc Guehi have retained their places in central defence, and Phil Foden has kept his spot in attack. Friday's win over Malta sealed top in the group for the Three Lions, and with North Macedonia unable to catch either Italy or Ukraine there's nothing to play for but pride tonight.
More to follow…
- Arsenal FC
- England Football Team
- Gareth Southgate
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