Arsenal Face Champions League Opener Without Key Players in Bilbao

Arsenal face significant injury challenges ahead of their Champions League opener against Athletic Club in Bilbao, with up to six players potentially absent. Key players Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Ødegaard are sidelined, with Ødegaard suffering a recurring right shoulder injury that ruled him out of the recent match against Nottingham Forest and casts doubt on his availability for the Bilbao game. William Saliba is recovering from an ankle injury and has resumed training but may be rested due to an upcoming Premier League match against Manchester City. Long-term absentees Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz remain out with ACL and knee injuries, respectively, and Christian Nørgaard is also close to a return after a minor knock. Athletic Club will also be missing several players, including Nico Williams and Unai Eguluz, due to various injuries. Despite the setbacks, manager Mikel Arteta remains focused on leveraging lessons from last season’s Champions League semi-final run and emphasizes the narrow margins and high competition in the tournament.