Arsenal's Champions League opponents set to miss star winger for opening fixture

Athletic Club winger Nico Williams is expected to miss their Champions League opener against Arsenal after suffering a thigh injury while on international duty with Spain.

The 23-year-old was forced off just before half time during Spain’s 6-0 World Cup qualifying win over Turkey on Sunday, having provided the assist for the opening goal. He was replaced by Ferran Torres and later underwent medical tests in Bilbao.

Athletic confirmed that scans taken on Monday revealed a “moderate injury” to his left adductor muscle, placing him in doubt for both their La Liga meeting with Alaves on Saturday and Tuesday’s clash with Arsenal at San Mames.

A statement on the club’s website read: “Nico Williams has suffered a moderate injury to his left adductor muscle, according to medical tests carried out on Monday afternoon.”

Williams has been one of the standout performers in the early weeks of the season. He has started all three of Athletic’s La Liga fixtures, contributing one goal and two assists as they made an unbeaten start to the campaign.

The winger’s importance to Ernesto Valverde’s side is underlined by the fact that Barcelona tried to sign him for a second successive summer.

The move collapsed after disagreements over a potential exit clause, leaving Williams to commit his future to San Mames with a new contract running until 2035.

Losing him now would be a significant setback as Athletic prepare for their first Champions League fixture since 2014.

Williams’ direct running and creativity have been central to their attacking play, and his absence could force Valverde to turn to alternatives such as Alex Berenguer or Gorka Guruzeta.

Arsenal also have fitness concerns ahead of their trip to Bilbao. Kai Havertz has been ruled out after knee surgery in August, while William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Ben White and Christian Norgaard all missed games before the international break.

Mikel Arteta will therefore take his side to Spain without key players on both ends of the pitch, although the Gunners will view Williams’ absence as a potential advantage given the threat he posed to defences last season.

Athletic meet Alaves at San Mames on Saturday before hosting Arsenal three days later in what is already shaping up to be a difficult night for the Basque club without their most dangerous forward.

The post Arsenal's Champions League opponents set to miss star winger for opening fixture first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.