Arsenal take on Sporting CP in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday evening, and manager Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update ahead of the clash.
The Gunners narrowly beat Sporting last week in Lisbon, courtesy of a well-taken stoppage-time goal from Kai Havertz. The result puts Arteta’s side in a strong position to progress into the semi-finals for the second consecutive season, although morale around the Spaniard’s camp will be low after Saturday’s dismal home defeat to Bournemouth.
The mood music isn’t positive around N5, and thus, this match against Sporting is crucial in re-energising the Emirates crowd ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City at the Etihad. Rui Borges’ team will be fired up for the encounter in Islington and will be encouraged that they can progress after watching Arsenal’s dire display against Bournemouth.
Mikel Arteta issues injury update on Bukayo Saka
While Arsenal should be capable of seeing this tie out on home soil, Arteta’s squad come into this game in poor health. Multiple players are potentially set to miss this key fixture through injury.
Four Arsenal players were absent from training on Tuesday morning, raising alarm bells amongst Gunners supporters. Among those who didn’t take part in the session was Bukayo Saka.
Saka hasn’t featured in any capacity since the League Cup final, which was now over three weeks ago. The nature of the Arsenal talisman’s injury hasn’t been disclosed, with Arteta repeatedly claiming that the winger ‘could’ be available before each of the last three matches.
He is yet to have been available, and the signs don’t look positive ahead of the Sporting game, given his absence from training. Arteta was asked about Saka’s fitness status in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon, and the divisive tactician once again provided a coy answer.
“Maybe one of them [Saka or Timber] will be available, let’s see,” he said.
“Bukayo is suffering an injury related to his Achilles, hopefully he will return within a matter of days.”
Mikel Arteta provides injury update on multiple Arsenal players
The other players who weren’t spotted in training at London Colney on Tuesday included Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard.
Both Timber and Odegaard missed the game against Bournemouth, with the former now absent from each of Arsenal’s last five matches across all competitions. Thus, neither the Ducthman nor the Norwegian’s absences were particularly unexpected.
No sign of Saka, Odegaard, Timber, Calafiori or Rice here this morning. pic.twitter.com/buysJhAsb2
— Harry Symeou (@HarrySymeou) April 14, 2026
However, Rice not being present in the session has caused concern amongst the Arsenal fanbase. The midfielder has been overburdened with minutes this season, and it’s possible that his exclusion from training was precautionary.
Arteta commented on this in his press conference before providing a more holistic injury update on his squad.
“We have to wait until tomorrow morning to see how a few of the boys are, and then we can make the right decision on them,” he said.
“I don’t want to do that [confirm Rice’s availability]. We have to wait and see how he is tomorrow, but obviously he wasn’t available to train.”
