Mikel Arteta has seen two Arsenal players return from injury ahead of their Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen while the Bundesliga side could miss their star striker
11:19, 06 Mar 2026
Patrik Schick of Bayer 04 Leverkusen could miss the Champions League game with Arsenal
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Patrik Schick of Bayer 04 Leverkusen could miss the Champions League game with Arsenal(Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Arsenal had already received a boost in their European campaign after discovering their route to a potential first UEFA Champions League final in 20 years had opened up following the draw. They face Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16, and should they win, could have either Bodo Glimt or Sporting CP in the quarter-final.
Leverkusen squeezed past Olympiacos in the play-off round, winning on the road and then holding the Greeks to a 0-0 draw in Germany. Patrik Schick scored both goals in Athens.
The Czech striker has 13 goals and three assists this season, the top scorer ahead of Alex Grimaldo, who has 11 so far. However, there is a potential doubt over his availability for the clash with the Gunners.
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The 30-year-old missed the midweek win over Hamburger SV. Christian Kofane, a 19-year-old Cameroon international, filled in for Schick and scored the only goal of the game.
Schick joins a lengthening list of injury issues for Kasper Hjulmand. Nathan Tella, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Mark Flekken, Loic Bade, Lucas Vazquez and Arthur are all out at present. Hjulmand will be hoping for some to return, but in an interview at the weekend, did not sound too optimistic on Schick.
“We don’t know yet how [Schick] is doing. The next two days will show,” Hjulmand told reporters after the midweek win.
For the Gunners, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino are expected to miss the game with known problems. William Saliba is not expected to be involved in the weekend’s action against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup.
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The Frenchman twisted his ankle against Chelsea and, despite completing the game, was unable to play in the 1-0 win at Brighton on Wednesday, but it is unknown whether he could return for the trip to Germany. Max Dowman and Kai Havertz have, however, returned recently from injury, and both could feature.
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