Arsenal Unveil Champions League Squad for 2025/26 Campaign: Strategic Selections and Notable Absences
Arsenal’s Champions League Squad Announcement
Arsenal have officially announced their squad for the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League tournament, with manager Mikel Arteta’s selection now confirmed across all media platforms.
Key Squad Selections
The squad features a strong lineup across all positions, including:
– Goalkeepers: David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Tommy Setford
– Defenders: William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Piero Hincapie, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori
– Midfielders: Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Christian Norgaard, Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke, Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Max Dowman
Notable Developments
A significant development is the absence of Gabriel Jesus from the group stages squad, with the Gunners naming 24 players from the available 25 spots, suggesting the Brazilian striker is still some distance from returning to first-team action.
Young talent Max Dowman has earned a place in the Champions League squad. The club had space for additional non-homegrown senior players, with 22 senior players requiring registration on the Champions League senior squad list, of whom 15 are non-homegrown from a maximum allowance of 17.
Competition Format and Timeline
The competition schedule is structured with eight matchdays between September 2025 and January 2026. Of the 36 competing teams, 24 will progress in the tournament. The top eight teams automatically advance to the round of 16, while those finishing 9th-16th will face play-offs against teams placed 17th-24th. Teams finishing in the top eight will also secure home advantage in the second leg of knockout ties – a new change from the previous season.
Squad Regulations and Future Changes
The club will have an opportunity to make changes to their squad list before the round of 16 in February 2026, with the option to register up to three new players, such as new signings or previously injured players, while maintaining the overall limit of 25 players and eight locally trained players.
