Full explanation of why Arsenal have not included two exciting players in their 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League squad
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal have named Kieran Tierney in their squad for the upcoming UEFA Champions League campaign, along with the club’s four new summer signings. The Gunners, returning to Europe’s elite competition, will compete under the tournament’s new format, which features 36 teams.
The top eight teams from the league phase will progress directly to the last-16, while teams finishing between ninth and 24th will enter an additional knockout round.
Mikel Arteta’s side begin their Champions League journey with a challenging trip to Atalanta, sandwiched between crucial Premier League fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
In October, Arsenal will host Paris Saint-Germain and Shakhtar Donetsk, followed by two more tough away games against Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon. The final European fixture before Christmas will see Monaco visit north London, and Arsenal will wrap up the league phase by hosting Dinamo Zagreb before travelling to Girona the following week.
Tierney’s inclusion in the squad comes after spending last season on loan at Real Sociedad. The left-back appeared likely to leave Arsenal this summer, but a hamstring injury suffered at Euro 2024 has kept him sidelined. Despite his injury, Tierney remains part of Arteta’s squad, though it is unclear how much involvement he will have once he returns to fitness.
Arsenal summer signings—Neto, Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, and Raheem Sterling—have all been named in the Champions League squad. However, Merino, who recently fractured his shoulder, is expected to miss at least the first two matches of the group stage.
Several young talents, including Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, were not included in the senior squad but are expected to feature on the List B for U21 players. According to UEFA rules, clubs can register an unlimited number of players on List B, provided they meet the eligibility criteria, and updates can be made before each fixture.
Arsenal’s senior Champions League squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: David Raya, Neto, Tommy Setford
Defenders: William Saliba, Kieran Tierney, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhães, Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Riccardo Calafiori
Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Martin Ødegaard, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling
Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli
