Arsenal Football Club has officially confirmed their squad for the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, but the absence of Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus has drawn major attention. Manager Mikel Arteta has surprised fans by including 15-year-old Max Dowman, showcasing the club’s commitment to youth development. However, Jesus, who is still undergoing rehabilitation after his knee surgery, has not been listed in the main squad. The squad announcement also highlights the presence of Arsenal’s latest summer signings. Among them are striker Viktor Gyökeres, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, defender Piero Hincapié, young talent Cristhian Mosquera, winger Noni Madueke, and midfielder Martin Zubimendi. These additions are expected to provide squad depth and strengthen the Gunners’ chances of progressing in Europe’s most prestigious club competition. Meanwhile, promising academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly will not need to be officially registered until the age of 21, as UEFA rules allow them to feature under list “B.” This provides Arteta with further flexibility as the competition progresses. Arsenal’s Champions League Squad 2025/26 (Excluding B-List) Goalkeepers: Defenders: Midfielders: Forwards: This squad announcement indicates Arteta’s focus on blending experience with youthful energy, as Arsenal look forward to making a strong statement in the new Champions League format for 2025/26. For fans, the exclusion of Gabriel Jesus is concerning, but Arsenal supporters remain hopeful he will recover in time to make an impact later in the season.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Eberechi Eze has officially played his last game for the club, signaling the end of his time at Selhurst Park. Glasner made this revelation after Palace secured a 1-0 victory over Fredrikstad in the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff on Thursday night. Interestingly, Eze was not included in the matchday squad, which fueled speculation about his imminent move. The decisive goal was scored by Jean-Philippe Mateta, who ensured Palace’s win in front of their home supporters. Reports of a Farewell Game Dismissed Earlier in the day, several reports suggested that Eze could make an appearance in the game as a way to say goodbye to the Palace fans before completing his anticipated move to Arsenal. However, this did not happen. Instead, the 27-year-old forward informed Glasner that he was not feeling well enough to play, which led to his absence from the lineup. Glasner Confirms Departure While addressing the media after the match, Glasner openly admitted that Eze’s chapter with Crystal Palace is over. “I think that Eberechi Eze won’t play for Crystal Palace anymore. Wishing him all the best at his new club,” Glasner stated. This statement strongly indicates that Eze’s transfer to Arsenal Football Club is close to being finalized, marking one of the biggest Premier League moves of the season.
