Mikel Arteta handed huge Arsenal injury boost ahead of Athletic Club Champions League clash

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta has been handed a huge injury boost ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash with Athletic Club on Tuesday night.

The Gunners return to European action just days after their 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. A brace from Martin Zubimendi and a sole Viktor Gyokeres strike was enough to ensure Ange Postecoglou's return to management ended in defeat.

The north Londoners now turn their attention back to the Champions League and Arteta will be hoping to go one better than last season, where they reached the semi-finals. Athletic Club are Arsenal's first opponents in the league phase of the competition and the Gunners squad were put through their paces during an open training session on Monday.

In what is a huge boost, William Saliba was among those to take part in the session. The Frenchman was taken off early in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break after suffering an ankle injury and missed Saturday's win against Forest.

Christian Norgaard was also out on the grass after yet again missing out on the matchday squad at the weekend. The Dane is yet to make his Arsenal debut since making the move from Brentford in the summer but appears to be in contention to make the trip to Bilbao.

In other news, Martin Odegaard was not among those to take part in the session after limping off against Nottingham Forest. The Gunners captain injured his shoulder in the first half against Postecoglou's side and was forced off.

The Norwegian has already suffered a shoulder injury this season and Arteta admitted it's a "very similar" injury. The Spaniard said: "I don't know if it's exactly the same place, but very similar injury. He wasn't comfortable to continue, he's played two games with Norway, unfortunately he cannot carry on today. So we have to assess him with the doctors and see, but I'm sure he will try his best to be fit for Tuesday."

Asked if Odegaard may need surgery, Arteta said: "No, I don't think that. Well, I'm not the experts, but they weren't concerned at that level at all. The last time in a few days he was able to manage the pain, especially since it wasn't that the injury was that bad. I don't know the extent of two days, but hopefully, hopefully not."