Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has delivered an important update on the injury situations of three of his key players—Martin Ødegaard, William Saliba, and Bukayo Saka—just days before the club begins its Champions League campaign. The Gunners, fresh from a commanding 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates, are now shifting focus to their European opener against Athletic Bilbao. However, despite the positive result, fresh injury concerns have raised questions about the availability of their star men.
During the clash with Forest, Arsenal’s captain Martin Ødegaard was forced off after suffering a shoulder issue similar to one he had previously endured against Leeds United. Speaking after the match, Arteta revealed that Ødegaard was not comfortable continuing and would need further medical evaluation. Despite the concern, the Spanish manager expressed cautious optimism that the midfielder could recover in time to feature in Tuesday’s showdown in Spain. Arteta praised Ødegaard’s commitment, noting that the Norwegian had already played two demanding matches for his national team before returning to London.
William Saliba’s situation also drew attention. The French defender recently resumed full training, completing a session without any setbacks. However, Arteta admitted he preferred to err on the side of caution, highlighting that the center-back himself felt he might need a little more time to regain full sharpness. Given the seriousness of his previous injury, the Arsenal boss stressed the importance of not rushing Saliba back prematurely. In the meantime, new signing Cristian Mosquera has impressed at the back, showing composure and strength while filling in for the 24-year-old.
Bukayo Saka, another vital cog in Arsenal’s system, remains on the recovery path and is edging closer to a return. Though he missed the Nottingham Forest clash, reports suggest he could be back in time for the highly anticipated Premier League showdown against Manchester City next weekend. This timeline provides Arsenal fans with hope, as Saka’s creativity and explosiveness on the wings have often been game-changing. Alongside him, fellow absentees Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus were also unavailable, yet Arsenal still showcased their squad depth and attacking quality.
The performance against Nottingham Forest highlighted the resilience and versatility of this Arsenal team. With players like Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyökeres, and Noni Madueke stepping up in attack, the Gunners created numerous scoring chances and demonstrated that they are capable of thriving even without several of their biggest names. The squad’s depth is becoming a vital asset, and Arteta’s management of player fitness and recovery is proving crucial as the club prepares to balance both domestic and European commitments
