Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal begin their Champions League journey on Tuesday evening with a trip to San Mamés to face Athletic Club, but Mikel Arteta’s side will be without captain Martin Odegaard after the midfielder was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
The Gunners travel to Bilbao buoyed by a 3-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend, which restored confidence following a narrow defeat to Liverpool before the international break. Arteta, however, continues to battle mounting injury problems early in the season.
Odegaard was forced off after just 18 minutes against Forest, aggravating a shoulder issue first sustained in last month’s win over Leeds United. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Arteta confirmed the Norwegian would not be risked.
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“Gabby, Kai, Ben and Martin are still out, unfortunately,” the Arsenal boss said, referring also to Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Kai Havertz (knee) and Ben White. Bukayo Saka remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, though William Saliba has returned to training and could feature after recovering from an ankle problem.
Martin Odegaard injury
Martin Odegaard injured his shoulder against Nottingham Forest on Saturday (Image credit: Getty Images)
Odegaard’s absence is a major setback for Arsenal, whose playmaker has been central to their progress in Europe in recent years. The Gunners reached the semi-finals last season before losing to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain, having also fallen to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals the previous year. Arsenal are still chasing a first-ever Champions League crown, their only final appearance coming in 2006 when they were beaten by Barcelona.
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Athletic, meanwhile, return to Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 2014/15. Ernesto Valverde’s men began the new La Liga season with three straight wins before slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Alavés last weekend. Their preparations have been hampered by the loss of star winger Nico Williams to a thigh injury, but the Basque side will be backed by a raucous San Mamés crowd.
Arsenal, who beat Athletic 3-0 in the Emirates Cup final during pre-season, will look to their summer signings to fill the void left by Odegaard. Martin Zubimendi scored twice against Forest, Viktor Gyokeres also found the net, and Noni Madueke impressed with his direct attacking play. Alongside Mikel Merino and Declan Rice, they are expected to anchor Arteta’s midfield in Spain.
The Group Stage clash kicks off at 6:45pm local time as Arsenal aim to lay down an early marker in their pursuit of a long-awaited first Champions League triumph.
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