Arsenal Starting XI vs Club Brugge: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup | OneFootball

Arsenal Predicted Lineup Dilemma Ahead of Club Brugge Test

Arsenal’s predicted lineup for their Champions League visit to Club Brugge remains clouded by injuries, illness, and mounting workload management. Mikel Arteta heads into the 8pm GMT showdown in Belgium needing to balance competitive ambition with player fitness, particularly amid a squad stretched to its limits.

One boost comes with the tentative return of Gabriel Jesus. After failing to feature since January due to a serious knee issue, the Brazilian travelled with the squad and is expected to make the bench after regaining match sharpness with two Under-21 outings.

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Arteta detailed the forward’s determination to shorten his recovery timeline:

“With the situation of Gabby, we expected him to be training with us by the end of December.

“But Gabby has been pushing every single day and he kept telling everybody: ‘I am going to be earlier, earlier, earlier’, and he’s done it.

“So, thanks to his work and all the work the medical staff have done with him throughout these months.”

Injury Concerns Impact Arsenal Predicted Selections

Despite that positive development, the situation elsewhere remains difficult. Cristhian Mosquera continues to recover from an ankle issue, Gabriel remains sidelined with a thigh problem, and Kai Havertz is undergoing treatment for a knee injury. More recent problems have further complicated selection, with Declan Rice ruled out through illness and Leandro Trossard aggravating a calf concern.

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William Saliba also remains unavailable following a training knock, while teenage midfielder Max Dowman has suffered a setback that has removed him from contention entirely. Arteta explained the latest blow:

“Max, unfortunately, he picked up an injury last weekend and he had to come off. So we did some scans and he is going to be out for weeks.”

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Rotation Options Shape Arsenal Predicted Midfield

Arteta hinted that Riccardo Calafiori’s minutes will be carefully managed, increasing the likelihood that Myles Lewis-Skelly comes into defence. Midfield could take on a youthful look, with Christian Norgaard and Ethan Nwaneri pushing for rare starts. Mikel Merino may also drop deeper to compensate for Rice’s absence.

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Up front, Viktor Gyokeres has made three successive substitute appearances and could step into the starting lineup to offer physicality and direct running through the middle. Wide areas remain under discussion too, with Bukayo Saka a possible rest candidate and Noni Madueke ready to take his place.

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Arsenal Predicted Lineup Against Club Brugge

Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Timber, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Nwaneri, Norgaard, Merino; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Injured: Dowman (ankle), Gabriel (thigh), Havertz (knee), Mosquera (ankle), Rice (ill), Saliba, Trossard (calf)

Time and date: 8pm GMT on Wednesday, December 10, 2025Venue: Jan Breydel StadiumHow to watch: TNT Sports

With such an improvised starting group, Arsenal’s Champions League challenge will rely heavily on adaptability, resilience, and the readiness of emerging squad players to shoulder responsibility.