Arsenal have included all four of their senior summer signings in their Champions League squad for the competition’s group stages at the expense of several promising youngsters.
Mesut Özil, Emiliano Viviano, Mathieu Flamini and Yaya Sanogo will all be eligible for Arsenal’s six group stage games, whilst Nicklas Bendtner has also been included after the Danish striker failed to secure a move away from the club during the transfer window.
Bendtner has not played for Arsenal since 2011.
Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe
Abou Diaby, who is still sidelined through injury, and Ju-Young Park, who, it would appear, has no future at the club, have both been left out, as, rather surprisingly, has Serge Gnabry, despite the German winger being promoted to the first-team squad today.
Other youngsters to miss out on inclusion are Thomas Eisfeld, Deyan Iliev, Damian Martinez, Kristoffer Olsson and Leander Siemann, whilst Samuel Galindo, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, has also been omitted.
Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Carl Jenkinson and Emmanuel Frimpong continue to be classed as U21 players for this campaign, and are joined on that list by 13 members of the club’s U21 squad. Gedion Zelalem, who is not eligible for List B, is included on the senior list. All players currently on loan have also been left out.
Arsenal Champions League squad for 2013/14 group stages
1. Wojciech Szczęsny, 3. Bacary Sagna. 4. Per Mertesacker, 5. Thomas Vermaelen, 6. Laurent Koscielny, 7. Tomáš Rosický, 8. Mikel Arteta, 9. Lukas Podolski, 10. Jack Wilshere*, 11. Mesut Özil, 12. Olivier Giroud, 13. Emiliano Viviano, 14. Theo Walcott, 15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain*, 16. Aaron Ramsey, 17. Nacho Monreal, 19. Santi Cazorla, 20. Mathieu Flamini, 21. Łukasz Fabiański, 22. Yaya Sanogo, 25. Carl Jenkinson*, 26. Emmanuel Frimpong*, 28. Kieran Gibbs, 31. Ryo, 36. Benik Afobe*, 37. Chuba Akpom*, 39. Zak Ansah*, 40. Hector Bellerin*, 41. Daniel Boateng*, 43. Zach Fagan*, 45. Isaac Hayden* 47. Jack Jebb*, 48. Anthony Jeffrey*, 49. Austin Lipman*, 52. Nicklas Bendtner, 54. Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill*, 56. Jon Toral*, 57. Nico Yennaris*, 58. Gedion Zelalem.
*= List B
Arsenal’s Premier League squad will also be announced later today.
I find this a really strange decision. with poldi and the ox both currently out and ryo struggling with fitness, I would have thought gnabry would get the nod over zelalem with the latter being left to play in YCL.
I’m sure this must be a mistake. He’s in the squad, as number 44, according to Ladyarse: ( http://gossip.ladyarse.com/arsenal/2013/09/04/arsenals-champions-league-squad-revealed/? ).
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/clubs/club=52280/squad/index.html <- He's no. 44
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/clubs/club=52280/squad/index.html
JB – UEFA showing gnabry is included, so you might need to change update this one?
That must mean that he is going out on loan
Martinez and eisfeld also in according to uefa
Got Eisfeld’s age at 25 as well…bit strange. There are restrictions on the “25 man A List” too. ONLY 17 “bought/non club trained players” can be included. If the club doesn’t have the 8 homegrown (club trained (from 0 to 8*) or associated (max 4)) then those spaces cannot be used for more bought/non club trained players.
*more than 8 club trained players can be included if there are not 17 bought/non club trained players included.
I make Szczesny, Walcott, Ramsey, Gibbs and Bendtner as the club trained players. So 3 spaces go unused.
Yeah that’s what i thought so that would mean no gnabry martinez or eisfeld.
although Gideon looks a fantastic prospect at this time wide and forward players are needed more if this is correct I find this a very strange decision.
If he is not included then he is going on loan. Hopefully german league. I think he can do something in the league for us anyway so we should keep him. I’m glad Diaby was left out because finally the club realize that he is pretty useless in a top team like Arsenal. At 27 and still injury prone he does not deserve to be here.
You fuckin idiot its not diabys fault ge gets injured
Did I say its his fault? I said he is too injury prone for us to use him. You fucking moron. Maybe you should try to use logic next time before commenting.
I agree wit u we should terminate diaby contract
Why terminate his contract? We are still going to have to pay his wages until the end of his contract. Surely its better to wait until he is fit then send him on loan hopefully getting another club to.pay his wages. Or it may just be that like rvp he gets over his injuries. Especially if he changes his style or position. Every man reaches a period in his life where he ashieves his ultimate strength. That can happen anytime between 16 & 60. I don’t think diaby has yet. Some players achieve that in their teens then burn out. Other players struggle in their teens then physicallt change
Ozil is gonna win us the champions league mate 😉
Why terminate his contract? We are still going to have to pay his wages until the end of his contract. Surely its better to wait until he is fit then send him on loan hopefully getting another club to.pay his wages. Or it may just be that like rvp he gets over his injuries. Especially if he changes his style or position. Every man reaches a period in his life where he ashieves his ultimate strength. That can happen anytime between 16 & 60. I don’t think diaby has yet. Some players achieve that in their teens then burn out. Other players struggle in their teens then physicallt change
Van Persie was injured all the time until he hit about 26 or 27 years old! And look at him now…
Toral is in the list before Eisfeld? Toral has been injured A whole year omg
i’m really looking forward 2 c what bendtner is gonna do if he gets his chance…..got a feeling that he’s gonna surprise us all…..that man has got goals in him…lots of goals….!!
also cant see how any of the young guns are going to find playing time as every match is crucial and tough….but hope they can learn from being with the first team….
Not surprised at all.good squad and hope to see the gunners take position 1 in group stage.