Sports Update 1 month ago ⏱️ 3 min read

Arsenal injury news: Declan Rice not in open training ahead of Champions League quarter-final with Sporting CP with Bukayo Saka still missing

Arsenal injury news: Declan Rice not in open training ahead of Champions League quarter-final with Sporting CP with Bukayo Saka still missing
Declan Rice was not present in Arsenal training the day before their Champions League quarter-final with Sporting CP. Sky SportsRice and key quartet sit out pre-Sporting training Arseblog NewsArsenal injury update: Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard latest news and return dates London Evening StandardHow to watch Arsenal v Sporting CP live on TV Arsenal.comMax Dowman starts and Ben White dropped as three Arsenal changes tipped for Sporting CP Football London

Declan Rice was not present in Arsenal training the day before their Champions League quarter-final with Sporting CP.

Rice's absence from training does not mean he is ruled out of the last-eight clash on Wednesday night, but it is a concern given this is a huge week in Arsenal's season.

With Arsenal needing to finish the job against Sporting CP on Wednesday - Gunners lead 1-0 on aggregate - Arsenal also have a huge Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, which is billed as a 'title decider'.

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Arsenal have been missing Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori in recent weeks - and none of them were in open training on Tuesday morning.

Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze - who were only fit enough for the bench for the defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday - were both in training.

Mikel Arteta will give more information about Rice's absence from training - and the rest of Arsenal's injury news - in his press conference at 1.30pm.

Who could replace Rice?

Sky Sports' Sam Blitz:

It's the last bit of news Arsenal wanted to hear - more injury woes. But this may be the most agonising injury concern of the lot.

Not only is Declan Rice one of Arsenal's best players - an irreplaceable cog in Mikel Arteta's system - but there is also no back-up option for him. That's because Mikel Merino, Rice's back-up in his midfield position, is also sidelined with a long-term injury.

So where do Arsenal go from here if Rice is missing from their Champions League quarter-final second leg?

Christian Norgaard is Arsenal's only other available option as a sitting midfielder, but he is deemed as a back-up to Martin Zubimendi, rather than for the more attacking Rice.

Kai Havertz could continue in midfield, alongside Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze - but that is a very attacking set-up - and could expose Zubimendi, who is out of confidence at the moment.

There are other options. Leandro Trossard has shown he could play in midfield - and even started last season's Premier League game away at the Etihad Stadium, though was sent off before half-time. Myles Lewis-Skelly is another player who could fill Rice's role.

Either way, it is not ideal preparation in what is a big week not just in Arsenal's season - but also Mikel Arteta's tenure at the club.

Arsenal's remaining fixtures

April 15: Sporting CP (H), Champions League quarter-final second leg, kick-off 8pm

April 19: Man City (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm

April 25: Newcastle (H), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 5.30pm

April 29: Barcelona/Atletico Madrid (A), potential Champions League semi-final first leg, kick-off 8pm

May 2: Fulham (H), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 5.30pm

May 5: Barcelona/Atletico Madrid (H), potential Champions League semi-final second leg, kick-off 8pm

May 10: West Ham (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm

May 17: Burnley (H), Premier League, kick-off TBC

May 24: Crystal Palace (A), Premier League, kick-off 4pm

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