Mikel Arteta has shared important updates regarding Arsenal’s injury situation ahead of their crucial Champions League quarter-final clash against Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lisbon. The away team is dealing with several fitness concerns involving key players such as Gabriel, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Piero Hincapie, Jurrien Timber, and Leandro Trossard.
During a press conference on Monday, Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber will not be available for the match, as they have remained in England and are not part of the traveling squad. He expressed hope that both players might be ready for the weekend, stating, “They haven’t travelled in yet, let’s see, hopefully they’re going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well.” He added that this would be a significant boost for the team, given the recent loss of several important players.
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Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino will also miss the game due to ongoing fitness issues, while there are still uncertainties surrounding Piero Hincapie’s participation. However, Arteta confirmed that Gabriel, Rice, and Trossard are all set to play, responding with a straightforward “yes, yes and yes” when asked about their availability.
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Viktor Gyokeres has been a central figure in discussions, as he prepares to face his former club. The Arsenal manager shared his thoughts on the striker and the reasoning behind his signing. “I think he’s very excited,” Arteta said. “He’s full of gratitude for his time here. The way he talks about the club, the players, the staff, everybody around the club. The experience that he had, how important that part of his journey in Sporting has been.”
Gyokeres is expected to receive a warm reception at Estadio Jose Alvalade. However, his former teammate Nuno Santos will be absent due to a thigh injury sustained during a recent match against Alverca, where he only managed 26 minutes. Additionally, ex-West Ham midfielder Luis Guilherme suffered a foot injury in that game, while Fotis Ioannidis remains out since January following a knee injury in the League Cup fixture against Vitoria Guimaraes.
On the other hand, Rui Borges has welcomed back Geovany Quenda after an almost four-month absence due to a metatarsal fracture. Discussing his return, the 18-year-old expressed his happiness, saying, “I’m very happy to be back. I’m training with the rest of the team and I feel very good. Mentally, I’m always at 100 per cent. All of the people who gave me strength have contributed greatly. We have goals to achieve and I have to do my best to help the team. We will continue working hard, because everything is possible. I think we will achieve our objectives.”
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