Arsenal have moved to replace Max Dowman in their Champions League squad after the youngster sustained an ankle injury while featuring in an U21 friendly against Manchester United. The club said Dowman picked up the problem in that match, which also included Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Mikel Arteta had left Gabriel Jesus out of the travelling party that lost 2–1 to Aston Villa in Birmingham so the forward could get meaningful minutes with the U21s. With Dowman now sidelined, Arsenal have used the one permitted amendment to their league phase list under the UEFA rule introduced at the start of the season and registered Jesus ahead of the knockout stage. The club noted the change without giving further detail on the severity of Dowman’s injury.

The 28-year-old forward is immediately eligible for Wednesday night’s trip to face Club Brugge, though whether Arteta will select him straight away is not certain. Arsenal’s fitness record remains a concern: since the start of last season the club have recorded 93 different injuries, a total topped only by Brighton & Hove Albion among Premier League teams, per Sky Sports News.

The Gunners began the Champions League league phase with five wins from five, leaving their progression largely secure, but Club Brugge should not be underestimated, “just ask Barcelona .” Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have collected two points so far, may provide a less pressured setting for Jesus to return to club action.

UEFA rules enforce a 60-day delay before any player dropped from a squad for medical reasons can return to the competition. Dowman may be re-registered in January but will not be available for selection until Feb. 6, 2026, by which time Arsenal will have completed all eight league phase fixtures. Barring a significant collapse, Arsenal are expected to avoid the knockout playoff and proceed directly to the last 16, with first legs scheduled for March 10–11, 2026.

Arsenal entered the build-up to Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Club Brugge with fresh fitness questions after Declan Rice did not take part in the club’s open training session. Rice also failed to emerge for Tuesday’s training with the rest of Mikel Arteta’s squad, and no explanation has been provided for his absence. It is unclear whether the issue is connected to the injury he suffered against Brentford six days earlier.

Arteta is expected to give an update on the England international in his prematch press conference on Tuesday. The timing is delicate: Arsenal remain the only side with a perfect record in this season’s Champions League league phase, having picked up 15 points from their first five games, but defeat in Belgium would cost them top spot in the group.

Rice was not the only influential player absent from Tuesday’s session. Leandro Trossard, who returned from an ankle injury to score against Villa, was also not spotted at training. The ongoing absence of centre back William Saliba remains a significant problem for Arteta. The manager claimed Saliba was “days” away from a return before the Brentford game, but Saliba now stands to miss a fourth consecutive outing across all competitions if he does not recover before Wednesday.

Gabriel is also sidelined with an injury that may have brought his 2025 to an abrupt end. Arteta recently confessed Arsenal may have to do without the pair for “a period of time .” Cristian Mosquera is facing his own extended spell on the treatment table, a situation that has prompted Arteta to open the door to a centre back signing once the January transfer window opens.

For now, Piero Hincapié is the only natural centre back available. The squad contains several versatile options: Jurriën Timber played centrally last time out against Villa, while Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori can operate at both centre back and fullback. Arteta must manage that versatility as he prepares his team for a potentially decisive match in Belgium.

Arsenal face the prospect of losing Cristhian Mosquera for up to six weeks after an ankle injury that has taken the youngster out of contention. In-depth tests are still to be carried out, but BBC Sport note Arsenal’s initial fear is that Mosquera may need up to six weeks to recover, which would put him out until late January at the earliest.

Ahead of the trip to Aston Villa, Mikel Arteta admitted the club may have to be active in the January transfer window to help cover ongoing injury issues in the squad, with problems concentrated in the centre of defence.

Gabriel remains “weeks” away from a return, while Arteta has continued to stress that Saliba needs “days” to recover from his own issue. Despite that confidence, Saliba was not fit enough to be included in the matchday squad for Saturday’s game, forcing Arteta to reshuffle his back line.

Piero Hincapié kept his place and was partnered by Dutch international Jurriën Timber, whose stronger performances this season have been on the right side of defence. Ben White moved into the right-back position.

The combined absences of Gabriel, Saliba and Mosquera left Arsenal without a single senior centre back on the bench for the match. The only defensive cover called up was 16-year-old Marli Salmon, who made his first appearance in a competitive senior squad.

There was a positive update elsewhere in the team. Winger Leandro Trossard returned to fitness after missing two games with a knock and was available for a place on the bench.

Arsenal’s starting XI for the match against Aston Villa, set up in a 4-3-3, was: Raya; White, Timber, Hincapié, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Saka, Merino, Eze.

Substitutes named were: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Salmon, Nørgaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyökeres.