Arsenal announce Champions League lineup without Gabriel Jesus
Arsenal has confirmed its 23-man squad for the Champions League first phase, with the absence of Gabriel Jesus standing out. The Brazilian striker, who is recovering from a serious knee injury, was left out of Mikel Arteta’s European plans.
Gabriel Jesus Left Off the List
Jesus has been sidelined since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee back in January 2025. Although he resumed light ball work at the start of the season, his full return is not expected until 2026—after the group stage concludes in January.
The decision effectively rules him out of Arsenal’s first round of Champions League fixtures, despite initial hopes of an earlier comeback.
A Surprise Inclusion: Max Dowman
Instead of Jesus, Arteta made room for Max Dowman, a 15-year-old midfielder recently promoted from the academy. Despite limited first-team action, Dowman’s registration highlights Arsenal’s trust in youth depth and could offer him valuable experience in Europe.
Gabriel Jesus’ Struggles at Arsenal
After a successful spell at Manchester City and a promising start at Arsenal, Jesus has struggled with injuries. In the 2024/25 season, he managed just 27 appearances, contributing 7 goals but missing crucial stretches of the campaign.
Arsenal’s Champions League Squad
Goalkeepers: Raya, Kepa, Setford
Defenders: Saliba, Mosquera, White, Hincapié, Gabriel, Timber, Calafiori
Midfielders: Ødegaard, Eze, Nørgaard, Merino, Zubimendi, Rice, Dowman
Forwards: Saka, Martinelli, Gyökeres, Havertz, Madueke, Trossard
Arsenal’s Group Stage Opponents
Arsenal enters the new Swiss-format Champions League, where each club plays eight matches against different opponents to accumulate points. The Gunners will face some European heavyweights, but they avoided Spanish and French title favorites like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG.
Their first-round fixtures include:
- Athletic Club (away)
- Olympiacos (home)
- Atlético Madrid (home)
- Slavia Prague (away)
- Bayern Munich (home)
- Club Brugge (away)
- Inter Milan (away)
- Kairat Almaty (home)
