Michael Owen: 'The international break is Arteta's worst nightmare'

Speaking to the Premier League Productions, Michael Owen said: "This [the international break] is Mikel Arteta's worst possible nightmare.

"He's lending the national team his players, hoping they come back in one piece for a final big push for, as I say, the biggest prize.

"So Arteta will be very nervous. Everyone will be thinking 'he's got two weeks off' but he will be looking at the phone after every training session.

"That's a problem, but that's been in written in stone before the season started. So all Arteta can do now is cross his fingers and pray."

Arsenal have gone eight points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League table due to Pep Guardiola's side involvement in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Arteta will now be hoping to avoid any major injuries to his players during the upcoming international break ahead of the final few months of the season.