Roy Hodgson has revealed his provisional squad of 26 players for the upcoming European Championships, and has taken only one Arsenal star.
England travel to France early next month for Euro 2016, with Wales, Russia and Slovakia to overcome in their group stages. They will warm-up for the competition with friendlies against Turkey and Australia before confirming their final 23 players, and then will take on Portugal in the final warm-up following the announcement of their squad in the first week of June.
Danny Welbeck was firmly expected to be given a starting place in England’s side this summer, but unfortunately picked up a nine-month injury in the last couple of weeks, and will come as a huge blow to the side.
Theo Walcott was a regular in the England team which went through the qualification phase unbeaten, and will now also miss out having endured a lacklustre six-months of football.
Jack Wilshere is the only Gunner to make it into the initial squad, but can still also miss out with the squad needing to be reduced to 23 players over the next few weeks.
Full provisional 26-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley).
Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool).
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Andros Townsend (Newcastle United), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool).
Wilshere looks like he will get his chance to prove his fitness in the upcoming friendlies, and I have no doubt that he will seal a place on the plane should he escape injury-free.
Did Walcott deserve a place in the provisional squad for his previous appearances with England in the group stages?