UCL: Arsenal boss Arteta provides injury update on Saliba, Odegaard, Saka ahead of Bilbao clash

Arsenal will begin their Champions League campaign in Spain with a major injury crisis, as manager Mikel Arteta is set to be without several key players for the trip to face Athletic Club on Tuesday.

The Gunners’ squad has been significantly hit with injuries early in the season, and few have cleared up for their first European outing.

Arteta confirmed that his side will be without captain Martin Odegaard and defender Ben White for the match in Bilbao. Also sidelined and missing from the traveling squad are Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka.

While many players remain on the treatment table, there is some positive news. After limping out of the defeat to Liverpool, central defender William Saliba appears to have recovered from an ankle issue and was in training before the trip to Spain.

The French centre-back is now available to return to the squad, though it remains to be seen if he will start after the impressive form of new signing Cristhian Mosquera.

The outlook for Bukayo Saka is less certain. Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Monday, Arteta admitted the winger’s return is not imminent.

“No, I think he’s still quite a lot of things to go through,” the Spaniard said. “Very difficult to understand what week he is going to be available.”

Despite the mounting injury concerns, Arteta is confident in his team's ability to compete at the highest level. The manager acknowledged that a full squad is crucial for a title challenge but insisted his side has what it takes.

“That we are good enough that we can compete with any opposition on the day,” Arteta said.

He added that for their dreams to become a reality, “You have to have two things go your way. You have to have a full squad available and have to put the ball in the net when the chances come your way.”