Arsenal’s complete squad against Shakhtar in the Champions League has been announced, with Ethan Nwaneri’s position officially confirmed and Bukayo Saka update…

The Arsenal squad set to face Shakhtar in the Champions League has been revealed, confirming the role of Ethan Nwaneri within the team.

Arsenal’s full squad for the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk has been announced, confirming Ethan Nwaneri’s involvement.

In the latest updates regarding Arsenal ahead of their Champions League encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk, concerns linger over the fitness of Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka.

Mikel Arteta faces critical choices for the upcoming match, especially with a significant title clash against Liverpool looming this weekend.

The Gunners are eager to recover from their first loss of the season to Bournemouth and are set to welcome back additional players from injury.

Players such as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Thomas Partey have successfully overcome minor injuries to participate in the recent match at Vitality Stadium.

Meanwhile, Ben White, sidelined for four weeks due to a groin issue, made his return to the starting lineup.

However, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber will join captain Martin Odegaard as notable absentees due to injuries.

As the team prepares for their next European match, Arteta provided updates on the injured trio, initially expressing optimism.

“They [Saka and Odegaard] are getting closer and making good progress,” he stated.

“Martin is still not available. With Bukayo, we will assess how he feels today and the transition we have later on.”

Regarding Timber, Arteta noted, “I think he will be close. We need to evaluate how he handles training with the entire group, as he hasn’t participated yet, but hopefully, he will be ready soon.”

Despite this optimism, neither Saka nor Timber participated in Tuesday’s training session, which Arteta emphasized would be crucial for their potential return.

It appears highly improbable that the duo will make a return, particularly with the upcoming match against Liverpool in consideration.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is also unlikely to participate, as Kieran Tierney remains sidelined due to injury.

With the same group of players at his disposal, Arteta must devise a strategy to prevent another scoreless outing, especially given the Gunners’ notable lack of creativity in their last match.

Ethan Nwaneri presents a potential option to inject some energy into the squad, with many Arsenal supporters advocating for his inclusion in the starting lineup.

Nevertheless, Arteta has suggested that he may be hesitant to grant the 17-year-old another start, despite the injury challenges facing his team.

“It’s about recognizing the right moments, understanding his position, the team’s situation, and determining the optimal time to introduce a player into that context,” he remarked about Nwaneri’s playing time during a press conference on Tuesday.

“He has already achieved a lot in a brief period. Therefore, we should proceed gradually and ensure that these steps are consistent, allowing him to develop in the manner we desire for him to be part of the team.”

With that in mind, here is the anticipated 23-man squad that football.london expects Arteta to announce for tonight’s European fixture at the Emirates Stadium.

Goalkeepers: David Raya, Neto, Tommy Setford.

Defenders: William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Maldini Kacurri, Josh Robinson.

Midfielders: Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Forwards: Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.