Three key Arsenal players absent from training as four young stars bolster numbers

2 hours ago 3

Arsenal travel to Belgium later today as they prepare for Wednesday evening's Champions League group phase clash with Club Brugge

Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba were all absent from Arsenal's open training session ahead of their Champions League trip to Club Brugge.

The Gunners are bidding to make it six wins from six in Europe when they face the Belgian outfit, who have just parted company with boss Nicky Hayen after three defeats in four league matches.

Nonetheless, it appears Arsenal's numbers could be depleted for the trip across the Channel as Mikel Arteta is facing late calls on the fitness of both Rice and Trossard.

The pair were working indoors whilst their team-mates trained on the grass and Arteta will have to decide whether he wants the duo to travel.

Author avatar Tom Canton

Given Arsenal are already on the cusp of sealing a top-eight finish, the Gunners are not under any pressure to win the contest as they also face Inter Milan and Kairat Almaty before the conclusion of the group phase.

Saliba has now missed Arsenal's past three matches with what Arteta described as a "knock" after the 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

The Frenchman will seemingly not be ready to face Brugge even though Arteta recently reiterated that he was just "days away" from being back fit.

Arsenal's ranks were bolstered by a number of youth stars, however, on Tuesday afternoon when Josh Nichols, Louie Copley, Marli Salmon and Marcell Washington all trained.

Copley captains Arsenal's U21s while Nichols and Salmon were both involved in the club's pre-season tour of Asia during the summer.

Salmon is pushing to be involved against Brugge after being named on the bench in the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend.

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