Mikel Arteta confirms two brutal Arsenal injury news updates vs. Bayer Leverkusen

London – Arsenal’s hopes of overturning a tenuous 1-1 away-goals deadlock against Bayer Leverkusen have been dented after manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that captain Martin Odegaard and in-form right-back Jurrien Timber will miss Tuesday night’s Champions League Round-of-16 second leg at Emirates Stadium.

Odegaard, who has managed only a 13-minute cameo at Tottenham Hotspur in late February while battling persistent fitness issues, has not rejoined full training and will sit out again. Arteta told reporters that the Norwegian’s absence continues to rob the side of its primary creative conduit between the lines, a void that was evident in the subdued showing in Germany three weeks ago.

Equally dispiriting is the loss of Timber. The Dutch defender, widely regarded as the Premier League’s most consistent right-back this season, limped off with an ankle complaint during Saturday’s win over Everton. Initial optimism that the substitution was precautionary has evaporated; Arteta acknowledged that the injury is legitimate, leaving Arsenal short of both experience and pace on the flank against a Leverkusen attack that has already breached the Gunners’ rearguard once in this tie.

Arteta must now reshuffle a back line that kept only sporadic control in the first leg and find a midfield formula capable of generating chances without Odegaard’s vision. The absences compound the pressure on a squad that knows only victory—or a high-scoring draw—will guarantee passage to the quarter-finals.

Kickoff at the Emirates is scheduled for 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.