Arsenal international round-up highlights 

Gunners players have been playing across the globe for their countries during the international break - here's Nick Manfredi with his comprehensive round-up 

I’m sure by now, you are all craving the return of club football after yet another mind-numbingly dull international break.

But for most of our players it has been an action-packed week or so as they’ve jetted off to various shores around the world representing their nations.

Let’s see how they’ve been getting on shall we? 

Let’s start with the Spanish lads. While David Raya was an unused sub in both games, our other two Spaniards were considerably busier.

In Spain’s first game they battered Bulgaria 3-0 with Martin Zubimendi picking up an assist for the first goal and Mikel Merino notched the third from a corner.

In their second game away in Turkey it got even better for big Mik as he scored a sensational hat trick, with three fabulous finishes for the European champions.

The first two were tidy finishes just inside the box and the third was a marvellous curler in the top corner from about 25 yards. More of the same on Saturday please Mikel!

Zubimendi also started. Keep signing Spaniards please Arsenal.

Viktor Gyokeres notched an assist for Sweden in their 2-2 draw with Slovenia, but he couldn’t prevent his side from falling to a limp 2-0 defeat in Kosovo in what was a major blow for Sweden’s hopes of making the World Cup next summer.

Martin Odegaard was in fine form for Norway helping himself to a goal and two assists in his nation’s 11-1 mauling of Moldova.

I tried to think of a pun for Moldova’s humiliating evening but I guess it will have to be mulled over...

Riccardo Calafiori played the full 90 minutes at centre-back in Italy’s 5-0 demolition of Estonia but he was an unused substitute for the dramatic 5-4 win over Israel.

Mikel Arteta will be breathing a sigh of relief that the Italian has managed to get through an international break unscathed after an injury hit debut campaign for Cala.

Over in South America, new signing Piero Hincapie played 90 minutes at centre back in Ecuador’s goalless draw with Paraguay.

In Brazil, both Gabis started for Brazil in their 3-0 win over Chile with Big Gabi playing the whole game, helping the Selecao to a clean sheet whilst Little Gabi came off on 71 minutes. Both were unused substitutes in the game against Bolivia.

Meanwhile, Hincapie played another full 90' for Ecuador in their second game; an excellent 1-0 win over world champions, Argentina. It’s worth noting that Hincapie played at left back in this one.

And last but not least, our English quartet.

All four played their role as Myles Lewis Skelly, Eberechie Eze, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke all started against Andorra.

The latter two were particularly effective as Madueke brought about the cross that forced an own goal for the first goal, and Rice headed in the second.

As for the trip to Serbia, MLS was left out the squad for hopefully non-injury reasons, Eze was an unused substitute and Madueke scored his first England goal with an impressive finish - while Rice grabbed two assists and was unlucky not to score himself.

For Madueke in particular it was a very productive international break.

He was arguably England’s best player over the two games.

He has certainly given Arteta something to think about when Saka returns from injury.