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England squad for Euro 2016 shows just how far Arsenal and Chelsea have fallen this year

The sides have just one player each in the provisional squad for Euro 2016

Simon Rice
Monday 16 May 2016 13:36 BST
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Wilshere has been included in England's squad for Euro 2016
Wilshere has been included in England's squad for Euro 2016 (Getty)

Arsenal and Chelsea, two of the most successful sides in English football, boast just one player each in England's provisional 26-man squad for Euro 2016.

Jack Wilshere, who has started just one game this season, is the Arsenal player picked by England manager Roy Hodgson while defender Gary Cahill will represent the Blues in France this summer.

The lack of players coming from the two sides for Euro 2016 is in stark contrast to their history of providing personnel to the England squad.

Since the turn of the century the two sides have never provided less than four players between them while 10 years ago, at the 2006 World Cup, they provided seven.

Arsenal and Chelsea players in England tournament squads since 2000...

Euro 2016 (provisional squad) - 2

Arsenal - Jack Wilshere

Chelsea - Gary Cahill

World Cup 2014 - 4

Arsenal - Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Chelsea - Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard

Euro 2012 - 4

Arsenal - Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Chelsea - Ashley Cole, John Terry

World Cup 2010 - 4

Arsenal - none

Chelsea - Ashley Cole, John Terry, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard

World Cup 2006 - 7

Arsenal - Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Theo Walcott

Chelsea - John Terry, Joe Cole, Wayne Bridge, Frank Lampard

Euro 2004 - 6

Arsenal - Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell

Chelsea - John Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Bridge, Joe Cole

World Cup 2002 - 4

Arsenal - David Seaman, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell,

Chelsea - none

Euro 2000 - 4

Arsenal - David Seaman, Martin Keown, Tony Adams

Chelsea - Dennis Wise

John Terry and Frank Lampard at the 2006 World Cup (Getty)

It could be argued that the drop in Arsenal and Chelsea players is reflective of relatively unhappy seasons for the two London clubs, although in Arsenal's case injury hasn't helped with Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unavailable for selection. Perhaps the most high-profile player to miss out on the squad is Theo Walcott, who after a bright start to the campaign has had little impact for the Gunners.

Chelsea have fewer options for Hodgson to pick from, with John Terry making himself unavailable and the promising Ruben Loftus-Cheek failing to fully break through this season.

The emergence of young English talent at Tottenham has also squeezed the traditional sides, with Spurs providing five of Hodgson's 26-man provisional squad. That is only matched by Liverpool. Meanwhile the Manchester clubs provide three players each and champions Leicester have two players vying for a place in the final 23-man squad.

Where the 26-man provisional squad come from...

Liverpool - 5

Tottenham - 5

Manchester City - 3

Manchester United - 3

Leicester City - 2

Southampton - 2

Everton - 2

Burnley - 1

Newcastle United - 1

Chelsea - 1

Arsenal - 1

Hodgson will have to submit his official 23-man squad for this summer's tournament to Uefa by 31 May before the tournament kicks off on 10 June. England's first match is against Russia on 11 June.

England squad...

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool).

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Andros Townsend (Newcastle United), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).

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