Arsenal suffer blow as captain Martin Odegaard ruled out of Champions League opener
Arsenal face Bilbao in their Champions League opener without captain Martin Odegaard and several injured stars as manager Mikel Arteta reshuffles his squad.
New Delhi: Arsenal will begin their Champions League campaign without captain Martin Odegaard, who has joined the club's growing list of injured players. The Norwegian midfielder was forced off after just 17 minutes during the Gunners' Saturday 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest, after landing awkwardly on his right shoulder following a challenge.
Odegaard also missed the training session on Monday, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that he did not travel with the squad to Spain for Tuesday's opening group-stage clash against Athletic Bilbao. The absence of the team captain comes alongside several other key injury concerns for the Gunners.
Arsenal injury woes continue
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Ben White are also sidelined, leaving Arteta with limited options in his starting lineup. However, there is some good news for Arsenal fans that William Saliba, who missed the Forest match due to injury, is expected to feature after rejoining training sessions.
Despite the setbacks, Arsenal remains optimistic about their Champions League prospects. Last season, the Gunners reached the semifinals before being eliminated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. The deep run provided valuable experience, even though the club has yet to secure Europe's premier club trophy.
Lessons from last season
Reflecting on the previous season, Arteta highlighted the importance of consistency and preparation. "That we are good enough and we can compete against any opposition on the day. And on top of that, that things have to go your way,” he said. The manager stressed that while injuries present challenges but the squad has the quality to compete in Europe’s top competition.
The Gunners face the difficult task of adapting without their captain and key players, but they will plan this to avoid their performance being hampered. Even the remaining members will be eager to step onto the big stage.
As the team prepares for its Champions League opener, the focus will be on resilience and tactical adjustments to make a strong start in Bilbao. Arteta will definitely rotate the squad and manage players carefully to ensure no further increase in the injury list.