Arsenal have released their Champions League squad for the 2025–26 group stage, and the omission of Gabriel Jesus is the most notable development. The Brazilian forward, still in recovery following ACL surgery sustained in January, has not been included as he continues his rehabilitation .
One of the headline-grabbing moves in the squad announcement is the inclusion of 15-year-old midfielder Max Dowman. Should he feature in any of the upcoming six group matches, he has the potential to become the youngest-ever player to appear in Europe’s premier club competition .
Meanwhile, academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly occupy spots on List B. Thanks to UEFA’s rules regarding locally trained players under 21, neither requires formal registration on the main squad list .
This squad selection underlines the current realities of Arsenal’s forward line. With Kai Havertz sidelined by recent surgery and Gabriel Jesus still unavailable, there is just one recognisable striker available—summer signing Viktor Gyökeres . Arsenal have attempted to reinforce their squad depth this summer, investing nearly £200 million in acquisitions such as Gyökeres, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Cristhian Mosquera, Noni Madueke, and Kepa Arrizabalaga .
Beyond bolstering depth, Arsenal are also moving to secure their future by negotiating long-term contracts with key academy products. Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Gabriel are among those in line for new deals aimed at maintaining squad stability and retaining rising talent .
No comments:
Post a Comment