Internationals: Arsenal trio help France win

Twelve Arsenal players were selected to represent their nations during the current international break.
 
A further three members of the Arsenal first team were picked for youth internationals. Armand Traore, on loan at Juventus, was also selected to represent his country at Under-21 level.

Here's how they got on...

Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Abou Diaby
France 0-1 Belarus, September 3
Bosnia & Herzegovina 0-2 France, September 7
Abou Diaby, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna all played 90 minutes as France got their European qualifying campaign up and running with a 2-0 win in Sarjevo on Tuesday night. Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena scored second-half goals to give Les Bleus their first three points in Group D. They had started with a highly-disappointing 1-0 defeat against Belarus in Paris on Saturday, a game in which the three French Gunners all played 90 minutes. Sergei Kislak grabbed the only goal four minutes from time.

Tomas Rosicky
Czech Republic 0-1 Lithuania, September 7
Tomas Rosicky played the whole match in Czech Republic’s opening Euro 2012 Group I game against Lithuania. Michal Bílek’s side lost 1-0 in Olomouc on Tuesday night thanks to Lithuanian midfielder Darvydas Sernas' 26th-minute strike.

Andrey Arshavin
Andorra 0-2 Russia, September 3
Russia 0-1 Slovakia, September 7
Russian captain Andrey Arshavin was unable to prevent his country losing 1-0 to Slovakia in Moscow on Tuesday night. Former Chelsea striker Miroslav Stoch scored the only goal of the game after 27 minutes to give Slovakia a slender win. Russia had started their campaign with a win on Friday when Arshavin laid on the first goal for Pavel Pogrebnyak as they beat Andorra 2-0.

Cesc Fabregas
Liechtenstein 0-4 Spain, September 3
Argentina 4-1 Spain, September 7
Cesc Fabregas played 57 minutes before being substituted as world champions Spain suffered a heavy defeat in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night. Goals from Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero were enough to give Argentina victory. Fabregas also played 45 minutes as Spain won 4-0 in Liechtenstein on Friday night. The Arsenal captain replaced Xavi at the break with the holders 2-0 up. They doubled that advantage in the second half.

Thomas Vermaelen
Belgium 0-1 Germany, September 3
Turkey 3-2 Belgium, September 7
Thomas Vermaelen and Belgium suffered the second defeat of their qualifying campaign with a 3-2 defeat in Turkey on Tuesday. Daniel van Buyten scored twice for Belgium but Arda Turan's 78th minute goal won the game for Turkey. Vermaelen also captained George Leekens’ side in their 1-0 home defeat to Germany on Friday night. Miroslav Klose grabbed the all-important goal just after the break.

Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs
England 4-0 Bulgaria, September 3
Switzerland 1-3 England, September 7
Theo Walcott came off injured after just 13 minutes for England in their 3-1 win at Switzerland on Tuesday night. Kieran Gibbs was an unused substitute for the game. Walcott was also involved for 74 minutes as England responded to their World Cup disappointment by beating Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley thanks to three goals from Jermain Defoe on Friday. Kieran Gibbs was again an unused substitute.

Jack Wilshere
Portugal Under-21s 0-1 England Under-21s, September 3
England Under-21s 3-0 Lithuania Under-21s, September 7
Jack Wilshere was a half-time substitute as England Under-21s beat Lithuania 3-0 in Colchester on Tuesday night. The score was goalless at the break when Wilshere came on to help England ease to victory thanks to a Danny Wellbeck double and Marc Albrighton's goal. Wilshere was an unused substitute as England won 1-0 in Portugal on Friday night.

Vito Mannone
Bosnia and Herzegovina Under-21s 0-1 Italy Under-21s, September 3
Italy Under-21s 1-0 Wales Under-21s, September 7
Vito Mannone kept two clean sheets for Italy Under-21s during the international break. Italy beat Wales 1-0 in Pescara on Tuesday thanks to a Mattia Mustacchio's goal and he again didn't concede as Italy won 1-0 in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.

Armand Traore
Ukraine Under-21s 2-2 France Under-21s, September 3
France Under-21s 2-0 Malta Under-21s, September 7
Armand Traore did not make the starting squad as the French Under-21s won 2-0 against Malta in Amiens on Tueday. He also didn't feature as they drew 2-2 in the Ukraine on Friday.

Emmanuel Eboue
Ivory Coast 3-0 Rwanda, September 4
Emmanuel Eboue was on the scoresheet as Ivory Coast beat Rwanda 3-0 on Saturday. Yaya Toure and Salomon Kalou had given the Elephants a two-goal lead and six minutes before half-time Eboue struck from 25 yards to extend his nation's advantage in the Africa Cup of Nations Group H qualifier.

Carlos Vela
Mexico 1-2 Ecuador, September 4
Carlos Vela was in the starting XI as Mexico suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Ecuador on Saturday. Christian Benitez put the visitors ahead in the first minute but Mexico equalised when Luis Checa turned into his own net five mintues before half time. Jaime Ayovi got Ecuador's winner just before the hour mark.

Marouane Chamakh
Morocco 0-0 Central African Republic, September 4
Marouane Chamakh's Morocco opened their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw at home to Group D rivals Central African Republic.

Wojciech Szczesny
Poland Under-20s 1-1 Uzbekistan Under-20s, September 3
Poland Under-20s 1-0 Italy Under-20s, September 6
Wojciech Szczesny played the full 90 minutes as Poland Under-20s drew 1-1 with Uzbekistan in Szamotuly. He then kept a clean sheet as Italy Under-20s were defeated 1-0.

[Wednesday, September 08, 2010]

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