Arsenal outcast Kieran Tierney has been named in Mikel Arteta’s squad for the league phase of the Champions League after failing to secure an exit from the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners’ player list for the European competition features all five of their summer signings.
Left-back Tierney spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad but had his temporary stay frustrated by a couple of hamstring problems.
The Scotland international suffered another hamstring injury during Euro 2024 and has not been part of any of Arsenal’s matchday squads in the first three weeks of the Premier League season.
Tierney will be registered to play in the Champions League, though, in a boost to Mikel Arteta’s defensive options.
Arsenal fans will also be excited to watch £34million arrival Riccardo Calafiori feature in Europe after an impressive couple of camero appearances in the Premier League.
Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling are all included following their moves from Real Sociedad and Chelsea. New goalkeeper duo Neto and Tommy Setford are also part of the squad as back up to David Raya.
Ahead of each league phase match, Arsenal can name a B-list of as many U21 players as they wish. That could allow the likes of highly-rated teenagers Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to make an impact in Europe.
The new ‘Swiss-style’ format of the Champions League replaces the previous group phase with a period of eight league fixtures.
Twenty-four teams will qualify for the knockout rounds, either automatically via the league phase, or via a play-off if they finish between ninth and 12th.
Arsenal’s four home matches see them face Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk, Monaco and Dinamo Zagreb. They will also face Atalanta, Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon and Girona away from the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta will be keen to go far in the Champions League this season following his side’s quarter-final defeat against Bayern Munich. Last season was the first time Arsenal had played in the elite European competition since 2016-17.
Arsenal’s Champions League squad in full
Goalkeepers: David Raya, Neto and Tommy Setford.
Defenders: William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney.
Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Jorginho and Mikel Merino.
Forwards: Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.
Be the first to comment