Arsenal Name Two Teenagers in Champions League Squad vs Lille

Arsenal academy prospects Ceadach O’Neill and Maalik Hashi are understood to have been named in the squad for Tuesday night's Champions League clash with Lille at the Emirates, according to Daily Mail's Isaan Khan.

Both players are 18 years old and could be in line for their first taste of European football with the senior side.

Arsenal won at Napoli in the opening match of their Champions League campaign, after a late winner from Martin Ødegaard. The Gunners suffered penalty shootout heartbreak in last year's final after Gabriel Magalhães missed the final penalty in a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but the side will be hoping to take the step further to glory in this year's edition.

Their inclusion comes as Mikel Arteta deals with a growing injury list ahead of the visit of Davide Ancelotti's side. Piero Hincapié and Martin Zubimendi, who were both tipped to start on Tuesday, were both ruled out after picking up injuries during a warm-down following Saturday's comeback victory over Leeds United.

The pair join William Saliba, who has returned to grass as he continues his rehabilitation from a back injury sustained during the 2026 World Cup, and Christos Tzolis, who the Arsenal boss expects to miss 'a few weeks' with a hamstring injury also picked up on international duty.

Hashi operates as a midfielder who can also operate as an attacking full-back, serving as cover for both Hincapié and Zubimendi, whilst O'Neill offers cover across the front line.

Arteta has shown he is willing to trust young players on the biggest stage. Max Dowman became the youngest player in Champions League history when he featured at Slavia Prague last season, aged just 15 years and 308 days, before becoming the youngest player to score in and win the Premier League.

Myles Lewis-Skelly also re-established himself as a first-team regular at the latter stages of last campaign after coming through the Hale End academy, whilst Bukayo Saka became the club's highest earner earlier this year.

Hashi, who is eligible to play for both England and Somalia, signed his first professional deal earlier this year, in a 'proud moment' for him and his family. However, the youngster has not yet been given an opportunity in the first-team, instead representing the under-21 side.

O'Neill has already had his first taste of senior football, however, and committed his future to Northern Ireland after registering his fourth professional cap in the international break. The forward also impressed with three substitute cameos during the Gunners' pre-season preparations in August.

Lille were defeated by Real Betis in their opening match of their European journey, though they have lost just one of their opening six Ligue 1 games under Ancelotti.