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Arsenal's UEFA Champions League squad leaves two big surprises
By Kian Long
After the international break, Arsenal are excited to return to UEFA Champions League action for a second consecutive season. This is particularly the case, after they revealed their squad list for the league stage.
That said, Arsenal do have a fixture to play against the team who shan't be named before they return to the prestigious European competition. Hint: The team who shan't be named are not in the competition.
That aside, Arsenal fans are left with two unanswered questions after hearing about the UEFA Champions League squad.
A lot of the squad was to be expected but it did feature one forgotten about player, who still somehow belongs to Arsenal. It also does not feature a player who had an incredible pre-season and was predicted big things for this season.
Arsenal's UEFA Champions League squad leaves two big surprises
1. Kieran Tierney is back
The one glaringly obvious surprise is that Arsenal included Kieran Tierney in their first UEFA Champions League squad. It is firstly a surprise that he's still an Arsenal player but it's even more of a surprise that Mikel Arteta still considers him for the Champions League.
The Scottish defender is currently sidelined through injury, having not featured in any of Arsenal's three Premier League fixtures so far this season. Last season, he was on loan at Real Socieded.
Whether or not Kieran Tierney starts, or even appears in any Champions League matches remains to be seen. I guess this will depend on how well Arsenal are doing in the new league format. However, it will still serve as a confidence boost to Tierney, who isn't as down and out as he probably thought.
2. Where is Ethan Nwaneri?
Another surprise for Arsenal fans is the exclusion of Ethan Nwaneri. The teenage sensation is predicted to have a big season for Arsenal and competitions like the Champions League and the two domestic cups are his expected avenue into the starting lineup, even if he plays from the bench.
Ethan Nwaneri had a brilliant pre-season. After showing shades of promise last season, for example his cameo against West Ham away, Nwaneri probably thought he'd crept up in Mikel Arteta's estimations, but his exclusion proves he still has impressing to do.
It is even more surprising considering Arsenal's depleted options in the midfield. Mikel Merino is currently injured and Declan Rice is suspended (which won't count in the Champions League, but still shows how they can become frail in the midfield).
Of course, Ethan Nwaneri can still be introduced to the squad at a later date.
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