Who were Arsenal's best performers during the international break?

Who were Arsenal's best performers during the international break?

By Jonny Bray
Arsenal stars have been lighting up the international stage this week, with several playing critical roles for their sides. 
Some have scored or set up goals in international friendlies, while others qualified for this winter's World Cup. 
And with the historic tournament in Qatar fast approaching, what better time to look at Arsenal's best performers from the international break?

Martin Ødegaard

It is almost impossible not to put Martin Ødegaard on this list after his Norway side beat Armenia 9-0 in a friendly. 
Norway look like a team that could become a significant force on the European stage in the future, now that they have world-class talents like Ødegaard and Erling Haaland. 
The 9-0 win came after a 2-0 victory against Slovakia, where Ødegaard once again played a central role, scoring the second in the 80th minute.
The 23-year-old has been in brilliant form for the Gunners all season, so it is great to see his performance levels transfer over to international football. 
Hopefully, he will play a central role in the success of both his club and country in the years to come. 

Thomas Partey

There were no international friendlies for Thomas Partey. 
His Ghana side fought for their place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar during this international break, taking on a strong Nigeria squad. 
The two sides drew 0-0 in the first leg in Ghana, meaning Partey's goal in the tenth minute of Tuesday's game proved decisive thanks to the away goals rule. 
It was an excellent result for Partey and his side. They deserve to travel to Qatar after a brilliant result against a team boasting the likes of Brentford's Frank Onyeka, Leicester's Ademola Lookman and Napoli star Victor Osimhen. 

Mattéo Guendouzi

Many Arsenal fans may have forgotten that Mattéo Guendouzi was on our books, but the young midfielder has had a great season in Ligue 1. 
His performances for Marseilles earned him a spot in the France squad, and the young maverick took full advantage of his opportunity. 
He created the winner against Côte d'Ivoire, assisting Aurelien Tchouameni's stoppage-time goal to make the score 2-1. 
And things got even better for Guendouzi, who capped off a superb international break with a goal in the 5-0 demolition of South Africa. 
Suppose Guendouzi continues performing like this on the international stage. In that case, there is no reason why he can't come back to the Emirates and play a significant role in Mikel Arteta's squad moving forward. 

Ben White

Ben White may have been at fault for Switzerland's goal at Wembley last week, but the England defender showed his character by not putting a foot wrong in the 120 minutes of football that has followed. 
He performed well at very late notice in the heart of England's defence but also showed his versatility when asked to play right-back. 
Let's be honest, something would have to go badly wrong for White to play on the right in Qatar but it's always good to know that you have an option up your sleeve.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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