Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Arsenal handed double injury blow before Bayer Leverkusen decider but Max Dowman trains

Max Dowman walks out for open Arsenal training alongside Declan Rice - (Getty Images)

Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber have both been ruled out of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

The Gunners drew the first leg of their last-16 tie 1-1 in Germany last week and will look to secure a quarter-final spot in the return fixture in north London on Tuesday night.

They will have to do so without Odegaard, who continues to be sidelined by a knee injury.

The Arsenal captain has played just once since February 12, when he first picked up the issue against Brentford.

Odegaard briefly returned off the bench against Tottenham last month but had not fully recovered and has been absent since.

Timber, meanwhile, has been almost an ever-present in the Arsenal side this season but is also now out.

The versatile defender appeared to suffer an ankle issue early in the 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday.

Timber attempted to carry on but signalled to the bench 20 minutes later and was brought off before half-time.

Neither player took part in an open training session at London Colney on Monday and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has now confirmed they will not be available to face Leverkusen.

However, Leandro Trossard will be involved after training on Monday. The Belgian picked up a minor injury against Mansfield in the FA Cup last weekend that has kept him out of the last two matches.

“Both of them [Odegaard and Timber] are out,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference. “Trossard is okay, he felt good so he's available.”

Max Dowman was also involved in the first-team session on Monday morning.

The 16-year-old produced a remarkable cameo off the bench against Everton to drag Arsenal to victory.

Earlier this season, Dowman became the youngest player ever to feature in the Champions League and he could play a part in the second leg against Leverkusen.

Arsenal remain without Mikel Merino after surgery on a foot injury.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.