Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka set to miss Arsenal’s Champions League opener

Sep 15, 2025 1 min read
Martin Odegaard was substituted in Arsenal’s win against Nottingham Forest (John Walton/PA)
Martin Odegaard was substituted in Arsenal’s win against Nottingham Forest (John Walton/PA)

Arsenal are set to be without Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka for their Champions League opener against Athletic Bilbao.

Neither Odegaard, who was substituted in Arsenal’s win against Nottingham Forest with a shoulder injury at the Emirates on Saturday, nor Saka – absent since he sustained a hamstring problem in his side’s victory over Leeds on August 23 – took part in training on Monday.

However, William Saliba, who was also sidelined from the win against Forest, is poised to feature after he joined his team-mates at the club’s London Colney base.

William Saliba, second left, in training with Arsenal on Monday
William Saliba, second left, trained for Arsenal on Monday (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Captain Odegaard was withdrawn after just 17 minutes on Saturday after he fell awkwardly on his right shoulder following a challenge by Morgan Gibbs-White.

Saka has missed Arsenal’s past two matches through injury and, speaking last Friday, manager Mikel Arteta revealed the England international is “trying to get back as quick as possible”.

Arteta is due to address the media at 1900 local time (1800 BST) in Bilbao.

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