Ahead of their trip to Lisbon to face Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-finals, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit as Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes have both been spotted in training.
Looking to get back to winning ways after crashing out of the FA Cup on the weekend at the hands of Championship outfit Southampton, having as many players as possible will be good news for the Gunners.
Arsenal’s quadruple hunt has been halved in just a couple of weeks – having lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and their subsequent defeat to Saints – and they’ll need to turn the screw in weeks to come.
Read More: Sporting CP vs Arsenal: TV channel, kick-off time & how to watch
Not only do Arsenal have a chance to progress into the latter rounds of Europe’s most prestigious competition in the coming weeks but their Premier League encounter with City later this month could also determine the champions of England.
Rice and Gabriel back in training ahead of Sporting encounter in Lisbon
Midfielder Declan Rice, who was absent for his side’s shock defeat away at Southampton, has been pictured with his teammates in training at London Colney on Monday.
Gabriel, who was among the many Arsenal players who withdrew from international duty in the weeks just gone, played at St Mary’s on the weekend – but the Brazilian picked up an injiry and was unable to continue beyond the 72nd minute.
The defender has also been spotted in training which is another encouraging sign for Arteta’s side in such a tricky period of fixtures.
That said, the fact that the talismanic Bukayo Saka was absent from training will ring alarm bells for the travelling Emirates Stadium faithful – but that doesn’t mean that he won’t be part of the squad for Sporting.
Elsewhere, left winger Leandro Trossard – who also missed his side’s FA Cup trip down south – is likely to travel to Portugal.
As mentioned, Arteta and his entourage will be eager to have as many of their first-team players ready and raring to go for such an important tie. Not having Saka on the right-hand side could be a big miss though.
Predicting Arsenal’s XI for Sporting Champions League clash
Arsenal boss Arteta made plenty of changes for his side’s away encounter at Southampton… but he’s unlikely to not go down the same avenue for Tuesday night’s trip to the Portuguese capital.
David Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are destined to form the three-man defensive unit at the back with Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber (if he passes fit!) on either side of the back line.
Timber was absent from the above footage and Ben White would operate in the Dutchman’s absence.
Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard are likely to operate as the three-man midfield with the latter taking on an advanced role with the other two doing the dirty work behind him.
Viktor Gyokeres is bound to start after scoring Arsenal’s solitary goal in their FA Cup demise against Saints – with Trossard starting on the left.
The fact that Noni Madueke was put through his paces at London Colney on Monday means that he could be the replacement for Saka on the right flank.
