Arsenal dealt blow as 26yo star misses training today ahead of UCL opener v Athletic Bilbao

Arsenal kick off their 2025-26 Champions League campaign with a trip to Spain to face Athletic Club tomorrow, and manager Mikel Arteta and his men had an open training session on Monday morning.

While the Gunners have received a huge injury boost after William Saliba participated in the session, they remain without Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Arsenal have also suffered another blow as Martin Odegaard was unavailable to train after he limped off against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Norwegian international midfielder injured his shoulder in the first-half of the game and was taken off. It appears he will not be featuring against the Spanish club tomorrow and Arteta will hope he is fit when Arsenal take on Manchester City on Sunday (September 21).

Saliba could be available tomorrow or against City, and the Gunners need the French international centre-back back in the team as soon as possible.

He lasted just four minutes into the first-half against Liverpool before the international break due to an ankle injury and was unavailable for selection against Forest.

Christian Norgaard was also spotted in the training session today, and his Arsenal debut could be nearer having not been available so far since joining from Brentford in the summer.

Saka could also be available against Man City after picking up a knock in the second-half of the Premier League game against Leeds United on August 23.

While there were initial fears that the Arsenal attacker had sustained a major hamstring problem, he has not and could be fit to take on the Etihad Stadium club.

He was unavailable against Liverpool and missed the game against Nottingham Forest.

Saka is also expected to miss the Champions League opener against Athletic Club in Spain on Tuesday having not trained today.

However, Arteta could have him and Saliba available against City, in what would be a huge boost given the quality of the Manchester club.

The post Arsenal dealt blow as 26yo star misses training today ahead of UCL opener v Athletic Bilbao first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.