Bukayo Saka will miss the Champions League match. (Image: Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Arsenal’s injury situation ahead of their Champions League quarter-final match against Sporting CP in Lisbon. The traveling squad has injury concerns, mainly with Gabriel, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Piero Hincapie, Julian Timber and Leandro Trossard.
Arteta confirmed in a press conference on Monday that Saka and Timber remain sidelined, with both players remaining in England and left out of the traveling squad. “They haven’t entered the country yet, but we’ll see. If everything goes well, we’ll be ready for the weekend,” he said.
“This is a big boost because we have lost so many important players in the last few days. This needs to change immediately.”
Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino will be absent due to illness, while Piero Hincapie is doubtful.
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However, Gabriel, Reis and Trossard are all expected to feature, but Arteta responded bluntly to a question about their preparation: “Yes, yes, yes.”
Victor Gokeres was naturally an important topic as he was playing against his former team. The Arsenal manager shared his thoughts on the striker and the rationale behind his signing.
“I think he’s very excited,” the Gunners manager continued. “He is so grateful for his time here, the way he talks about the club, the players, the staff and everyone around the club.
“What he went through, how important that part of his journey at Sporting was.”
Geovanny Quenda could feature against Arsenal. (Image: Getty Images)
Goqueres is expected to receive a warm welcome at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, but his former teammate Nuno Santos will be absent as he continues to recover from a thigh injury he sustained against Alverca last month. He played only 26 minutes.
Former West Ham midfielder Luis Guilherme also suffered a foot injury in the game.
Fotis Ioannidis was also a key absentee, having been sidelined since January after sustaining a knee injury in the League Cup match against Vitoria Guimarães.
Nevertheless, Sporting manager Luis Borges has been given a boost by the return of Giovani Quenda after nearly four months out with a fractured metatarsal.
Reflecting on his return this month, the 18-year-old said: “I’m very happy to be back. I’ve been training with the rest of the team and I’m feeling really good. Mentally I’m always 100 per cent.”
“Everyone who gave me strength has contributed a lot. We have goals to achieve, so I have to do my best to help the team. We will continue to work hard, because everything is possible. I think we can achieve our goals.”
