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

Leandro Trossard set to return in Champions League last-16 second leg, but two key players sidelined

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

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.

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.