Bad News: Major setback for Arsenal as senior players prepare for RC Lens Champions League match

Tuesday’s training session for Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League match against RC Lens appears to have dealt the team a serious blow.

Before the crucial UEFA Champions League match against RC Lens on Wednesday night, Fabio Vieira has not practiced with the Arsenal team. As a result, he may be unable to play.

During today’s open training session at London Colney, football.london observed that the attacking midfielder from Portugal was not with the other senior players as they left. It’s unknown at this time why the 23-year-old was not present.

Vieira may be among the first-team players who will miss the match against Lens as the Gunners look to win and secure a spot in the top group in Group B due to a potential injury setback. Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, and Emile Smith Rowe are also likely to be absent.

If the midfield player is forced to miss out, it will ultimately exacerbate his frustrations, particularly since he is back available after missing Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Brentford over the weekend. Given that his suspension is limited to Premier League matters, he would have been eligible to rejoin the matchday squad, which can include up to 23 players.

Ben White was also absent from the Gunners’ Tuesday afternoon training session. Due to a muscular ailment, the defender was ruled fit for the trip to Brentford but had to make a late appearance as a substitute. He missed the Burnley match prior to the international break.

It is unclear if White will be available for the Lens game, though, as he did leave the gym with strength and conditioning coach Sam Wilson and train alone.

Before playing RC Lens, read more about how Arsenal can advance from their Champions League group.

As anticipated, Timber, Partey, and Smith Rowe did not show up for training either. However, it’s good to report that no other notable players missed the session; instead, players like Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard took their places.

Mikel Arteta called up two highly-rated youngsters, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly. If they are on Arsenal’s B-list later this evening, they can both be included in the matchday squad against Lens.