Arsenal head to Lisbon for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP on Tuesday night, and Mikel Arteta is already dealing with a defensive crisis before a ball has been kicked.
Two domestic cup exits in the space of a fortnight have knocked the wind out of Arsenal’s season. The quadruple dream is long gone, the treble followed shortly after, and now the Champions League represents their best remaining chance of silverware. The problem is that the trip to Estádio José Alvalade could not have come at a more difficult moment from a fitness standpoint.
Arsenal injury news ahead of Sporting CP first leg
The biggest concern is Gabriel Magalhaes, who was forced off at Southampton on Saturday with a knee injury. Arteta described it as “never good news” when a player has to come off, which is not exactly reassuring, and the quick turnaround means the Brazilian centre-back is a serious doubt for Tuesday. Losing your first-choice centre-back ahead of a Champions League quarter-final away from home is far from ideal.
Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino are confirmed absentees and will play no part in Lisbon. Piero Hincapie, who picked up a hamstring problem during the international break, is also doubtful, while Leandro Trossard is another question mark. On a more positive note, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were simply rested on Saturday and are both expected to return to the starting lineup, which is a significant boost. Jurrien Timber is close to full fitness and could also force his way into Arteta’s thinking, having missed the last few weeks with an unspecified issue.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Sporting CP
David Raya returns in goal after Kepa Arrizabalaga started the last two games. Raya has featured in all but one of Arsenal’s Champions League outings this season and is the obvious choice for a knockout tie of this magnitude.
In defence, with Gabriel out, Cristhian Mosquera is the most likely partner for William Saliba in the centre. The Spaniard started alongside Gabriel at Southampton and did enough to suggest he can handle this level. Saliba himself came off the bench in that game after withdrawing from international duty with an ankle issue, but should be fit to start. Jurrien Timber should slot in at right back, with Riccardo Calafiori taking the left back spot ahead of a Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has struggled when given opportunities this season.
In midfield, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard form the expected trio. Rice’s return is the single most important piece of team news for Arsenal this week. Odegaard, meanwhile, needs a big performance in Lisbon having had a relatively quiet season by his own high standards.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to start on the flanks, with Martinelli likely to keep his place over the doubtful Trossard after seemingly escaping further punishment for his push on referee Sam Barrott on Saturday. Viktor Gyokeres leads the line, returning to the ground where he scored 97 goals in 102 appearances and arriving in excellent form having found the net for Sweden in their World Cup qualifier at the weekend.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Sporting CP (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Saliba, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
