Arsenal, now preparing for their Champions League meeting with Club Brugge, have taken an unexpected hit. Mikel Arteta, already juggling a packed schedule, now faces fresh worries after two key players missed training on Tuesday. With qualification almost secured, the match should have been routine. Instead, fitness scares and selection uncertainty have turned it into a tense test. The spotlight is now on how Arteta manages pressure, rotation, and recovery.
🚨NEW | Arsenal training update ahead of tomorrow’s UCL trip to Club Brugge:
❌ Declan Rice
❌ Leandro Trossard
❌ William Saliba
All three were absent from today’s session and continued individual recovery programmes indoors.
Mikel Arteta:
“A final decision on whether… pic.twitter.com/a6rEtdDYf0
— Arsenal Team (@_ArsenalTeam) December 9, 2025
How Arsenal Reached This Point in Europe
Arsenal enters the final league-phase match with a flawless European record, winning all five games so far. Their dominant run has seen them outclass Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Olympiacos, and Slavia Prague. Even the worst outcome now guarantees progression to the knockout round playoffs.
This gives Arteta freedom to rotate heavily, something he may now be forced into. The squad is already missing Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Cristhian Mosquera through injuries. Gabriel Jesus is also unavailable for selection in the league phase squad. The combination of form, injuries, and fixture congestion has created a delicate moment as Arsenal tries to balance short-term safety with long-term goals.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal give key updates on Rice, Trossard and Saliba
Tuesday’s training brought a surprise. Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were both missing, which raised fresh worries before the Brugge game. Rice played the full match against Aston Villa but had a small calf issue from the Brentford win. He finished recent games, but the staff may fear that more strain could make the injury worse.
Trossard’s case is trickier. He came back from a muscle issue, scored, and then went off again after feeling pain. He often makes big moments, so the staff must manage him with care. Arteta said the move was planned and only a safety step.
Adding to this, William Saliba also missed training. He has already sat out the last three games with a knock, and his absence will be a concern until Arsenal provides clarity. The only positive update came from Riccardo Calafiori, who trained normally despite limping off at Villa Park.
Arteta may now have to reshuffle his plans. Calafiori could start at left-back or center-back, while Merino, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Gyokeres, and Madueke may all come into contention. With so many moving pieces, selection becomes a puzzle rather than a routine rotation.
Fans Speak Out
Fans felt worried as the news came out. Many feared the long injury list would slow the team at the wrong time. Rice missing training caused the most talk. Supporters begged Arteta to keep him safe.
Some fans blamed the heavy run of games. Others said Trossard needs more time to heal because he keeps stopping and starting. Still, there was some good news. Calafiori being back made many fans smile. A few also felt happy to see that young players like Ethan Nwaneri might get a chance.
This may slow the team at a key moment
These injuries may change how Gunners plays in Europe and in the league. If Rice or Trossard stay out longer, Arteta may need to depend more on Merino and Martinelli. He may even turn to young academy players to cover the missing spots.
Resting Hincapie and Zubimendi also changes the midfield and defensive balance. The situation could affect squad rotation ahead of their Premier League meeting with Wolves, where points remain vital. Longer-term, careful injury management will shape Arsenal’s momentum heading into the knockout rounds and the title race.
Author’s Opinion
Arsenal and Arteta now wait to see who is fit and choose between rest and risk. The game against Brugge will show how the team handles pressure. What happens next could shape their form in December. All focus is now on the final lineup.
As featured on GoonerNews.com