Arsenal's World Cup dichotomy: progress for two, elimination for two

On Tuesday, Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard and William Saliba both secured places in the World Cup last‑16, while teammates Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie saw their campaigns end. The contrasting fortunes highlighted the club’s mixed fortunes on the global stage.

Odegaard opened the scoring against Côte d’Ivoire with a first‑half pass to Antonio Nusa, whose finish made it 1‑0, and Erling Haaland later added a late winner to clinch a 2‑1 victory for Norway. The Norwegian midfielder now boasts three assists in as many World Cup matches.

Saliba’s France side faced Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres, delivering a clean‑sheet performance as the French lifted a decisive 3‑0 win. France’s dominant display has positioned them among the competition’s favourites.

Gyokeres’ elimination was sealed by the French victory, confirming Saliba’s progression while the Swedish striker exited the tournament. His defeat underscored the fine margins for Arsenal players in knockout football.

In the Ecuador‑Mexico tie, Hincapie received a red card as Ecuador fell 2‑0, and the defender will miss the next competitive match for his nation. Mexico’s two‑goal margin secured their place in the next round.

Next, Norway will meet Brazil in the last‑16, while France is set to face Paraguay, extending the Arsenal presence in the tournament. Both fixtures promise high‑stakes encounters for the remaining Gunners.

Further Arsenal involvement awaits on Wednesday, with up to four players featuring for England against the Democratic Republic of Congo at 17:00 BST, and Leandro Trossard joining Belgium for their 21:00 BST clash with Senegal. These matches will add to the club’s representation across multiple national teams.