{"id":3100,"date":"2026-04-07T04:14:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T04:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3100"},"modified":"2026-04-07T04:14:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T04:14:20","slug":"arsenal-injury-boosts-revealed-as-mikel-arteta-gives-five-player-update-for-sporting-cp-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3100","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal injury boosts revealed as Mikel Arteta gives five-player update for Sporting CP clash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_e792fe\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Mikel Arteta has provided the latest Arsenal injury update ahead of the Champions League quarter-final vs Sporting CP<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">19:27, 06 Apr 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 19:50, 06 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33723782\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a training session.\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33723782.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Arsenal-Training-Sobha-Realty-Training-Centre-Monday-April-6th.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33723782.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Arsenal-Training-Sobha-Realty-Training-Centre-Monday-April-6th.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33723782.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Arsenal-Training-Sobha-Realty-Training-Centre-Monday-April-6th.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33723782.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Arsenal-Training-Sobha-Realty-Training-Centre-Monday-April-6th.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mikel Arteta has given an injury update on his Arsenal squad. for the clash with Sporting CP\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mikel Arteta has given an injury update on his Arsenal squad. for the clash with Sporting CP<cite aria-label=\"Image: John Walton\/PA Wire.\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: John Walton\/PA Wire.)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mikel Arteta has confirmed a triple injury boost for Arsenal, with Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard available for selection for the Champions League quater-final at Sporting CP. There was, however, confirmation that Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka will not be fit for the game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal take on Sporting in the first leg of the quarter-final on Tuesday night (8pm kick-off), with the second taking place just over a week later at Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ahead of the game, there were injury doubts over Gabriel, Rice, Saka, Piero Hincapie, and Trossard. Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino are ruled out of the first leg through injury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFCFootball.London#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When asked in his pre-match press conference if Gabriel, Rice and Trossard were available for the game, Arteta said: &#8220;Yes, yes and yes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Giving an update on Timber and Saka, though, the Arsenal boss added: &#8220;They haven&#8217;t travelled in yet, let&#8217;s see, hopefully they&#8217;re going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;That&#8217;s a massive boost because in recent days we&#8217;ve lost so many important players and that&#8217;s something that we need to change immediately.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Timber has been struggling with injury for the last three weeks, and did look to be in contention to return at Southampton. However, he wasn&#8217;t included in the squad for the FA Cup clash, with attentions now on a return at the weekend ahead of the second leg.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-33723808\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33723808\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bukayo Saka during the Carabao Cup Final match Arsenal and between Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. \" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33723808.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Arsenal-v-Manchester-City-Carabao-Cup-Final.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33723808.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Arsenal-v-Manchester-City-Carabao-Cup-Final.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33723808.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Arsenal-v-Manchester-City-Carabao-Cup-Final.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33723808.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Arsenal-v-Manchester-City-Carabao-Cup-Final.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mikel Arteta has given an injury update on Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mikel Arteta has given an injury update on Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka<cite aria-label=\"Image: Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Offside via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Offside via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It was a similar situation for Saka, who was absent from the squad that faced Southampton after returning early from England duty. He will now miss the first leg against Sporting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">One player who is expected to start is striker Viktor Gyokeres, who will come up against his former club.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The forward joined Arsenal from Sporting in a deal worth around \u00a355 million in the summer. Arteta has revealed he has spoken to Gyokeres to try and get an insight into Arsenal&#8217;s opponents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Of course I did, to understand the dynamics the culture and to have more information about them that we can use in our favour,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;A lot of qualities, what they are doing is remarkable. The record they have at home is amazing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Opening up on how the Gyokeres transfer came about, Arteta said: &#8220;He&#8217;s been on the radar for years, but more recent moments when we look at it, he was one of the top targets was around December of last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;When we had the issue with Kai (Havertz), and he became one of the main candidates.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Up to 70% off Arsenal kits and merch<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. 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Mikel Arteta has confirmed a triple injury boost for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3100"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3100\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}