Arsenal’s preparations for one of the biggest matches of their season have been thrown into fresh uncertainty after several first-team players missed full training ahead of the decisive Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.
Just a day before the crucial encounter, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard were not involved in full first-team training despite earlier optimism from manager Mikel Arteta that both players could recover in time to feature. Their absence has immediately raised major doubts over whether either player will be fit enough to start.
The timing could hardly be worse for Arsenal. The Gunners are preparing for a high-pressure European night with a place in the Champions League final at stake, and losing two of their most important attacking players would be a significant blow.
Ødegaard’s possible absence is especially concerning. As Arsenal captain, he has been central to the team’s rhythm, creativity, and pressing structure all season. His movement between the lines and ability to control tempo have made him one of Arteta’s most influential players. Without him, Arsenal could struggle to find the same balance in midfield.
Havertz, meanwhile, has become an increasingly important figure in big matches. Whether used as a forward, an attacking midfielder, or a link player between midfield and attack, his intelligence and versatility have given Arsenal a different dimension in recent months. If he is unavailable, Arteta may need to rethink his attacking setup completely.
The concerns do not stop there. Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino were also absent from the session, adding to the sense of anxiety surrounding Arsenal’s squad depth. Timber has been carefully managed after injury setbacks, but Merino’s absence is another unexpected issue in a position where control and energy will be vital against Atletico’s intense midfield.
Arsenal had been hoping to enter this match with momentum and close to full strength. Instead, the club now faces a tense wait for final fitness assessments. What had looked like cautious optimism earlier in the week has quickly shifted into uncertainty.
The tie itself remains delicately balanced. After a tense first leg in Madrid ended level, everything is still to play for in North London. Arsenal know a strong performance at home could take them to their first Champions League final in two decades. But against a side as disciplined and tactically demanding as Atletico Madrid, missing key players could make that challenge much harder.
Arteta still has quality options available. Bukayo Saka’s recent return to fitness offers a major boost, while players such as Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and Declan Rice will likely carry even greater responsibility if Havertz and Ødegaard fail to recover in time.
Even so, there is no denying the scale of the concern. Arsenal’s attacking fluency and leadership could both be affected if the duo are ruled out. For a team that has fought all season to reach this stage, the possibility of going into such a decisive match without several first-team regulars is far from ideal.
All eyes will now be on the final squad announcement. Arsenal supporters will hope the missing names were only precautionary absences. But as things stand, Arteta heads into a defining European night with serious selection headaches and growing injury fears.
