A report from Portugal on Tuesday morning claimed that Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Takehiro Tomiyasu would all return to the Arsenal squad for the Champions League for their game on Wednesday night against FC Porto.

Despite these claims, all three have been left behind, but there is a surprise inclusion.

While Record, the Portuguese sports paper, initially said the trio would return for the game on Wednesday night at the Estádio do Dragão, Jesus’s continued absence alongside Zinchenko and Tomiyasu presents another challenge for Mikel Arteta. Arsenal will need to find solutions for both their attacking and defensive lineups.

Without Jesus’ goal threat, Arsenal‘s attacking focus will obviously shift to other players, as it has done in recent weeks to much success. Similarly, the lack of left-back depth created by Zinchenko and Tomiyasu’s absence forces Arteta to turn back to Jakub Kiwior, who, it has to be said, is improving rapidly with his increased playing time. The 24-year-old has two assists in his last three games.

Arsenal‘s impressive form in the Premier League should not be dismissed, but the absence of these key players puts their adaptability under the microscope in the heightened arena of the Champions League. This clash now becomes a substantial test of Arsenal’s depth and flexibility in the face of such absences, as well as their ability to handle the pressure.

Thomas Partey, who was also rumoured to be in line for the squad, has also been left in London but Fabio Vieira, out since mid-November, has travelled.

At his pre-Porto press conference, Arteta said about Vieira, “[I’m] really happy with him but at the same time sad because just as he was building some momentum he got injured just like last season. He’s a player with enormous talent and we will get the best out of him.

“He was really pushing because he wanted to be here. Having an insider as someone who has lived the culture and the club. It’s very important to understand the context of the game. He gave us some important information that’s relevant for us.”

Gabriel Jesus is out with a knee problem that seems to have been exacerbated by playing with fluid on the joint against Forest. Zinchenko and Tomiyasu are out with calf issues, a problem that has plagued them all season.

Jurrien Timber is also still out as he recovers from his ACL injury and, while he has been included in Arsenal’s Champions League squad list for the remainder of the season, it seems unlikely Arsenal fans will get to watch him play this season.