BILBAO, Spain (AP) – Captain Martin Odegard misses an opening Champions League match against Arsenal’s Athletic Bilbao after joining the team’s growing list of injuries.
Odegard was replaced 17 minutes later in a 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday after awkwardly falling to his right shoulder following a challenge.
The Norwegian midfielder didn’t take part in training on Monday, so Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said Odegard didn’t travel to Spain for Tuesday’s match.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Herberts and Ben White were also injured, but William Saliba was on the sidelines from his victory against the forest, but has been featured after joining his teammates in training.
Arsenal reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, losing to ultimate champion Paris Saint-Germain, but has yet to win Europe’s biggest award.
Asked what he learned from his run last season, Arteta said, “We asked that we’re enough and we can compete with the opposition of the day. Plus, things have to go your way.”
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