Mikel Arteta has provided the latest Arsenal injury update ahead of the Champions League quarter-final vs Sporting CP
19:27, 06 Apr 2026Updated 19:50, 06 Apr 2026
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a training session.
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Mikel Arteta has given an injury update on his Arsenal squad. for the clash with Sporting CP(Image: John Walton/PA Wire.)
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.
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.
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.
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When asked in his pre-match press conference if Gabriel, Rice and Trossard were available for the game, Arteta said: "Yes, yes and yes."
Giving an update on Timber and Saka, though, the Arsenal boss added: "They haven't travelled in yet, let's see, hopefully they're going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well.
"That's a massive boost because in recent days we've lost so many important players and that's something that we need to change immediately."
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't included in the squad for the FA Cup clash, with attentions now on a return at the weekend ahead of the second leg.
Bukayo Saka during the Carabao Cup Final match Arsenal and between Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
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Mikel Arteta has given an injury update on Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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.
One player who is expected to start is striker Viktor Gyokeres, who will come up against his former club.
The forward joined Arsenal from Sporting in a deal worth around £55 million in the summer. Arteta has revealed he has spoken to Gyokeres to try and get an insight into Arsenal's opponents.
"Of course I did, to understand the dynamics the culture and to have more information about them that we can use in our favour," he said.
"A lot of qualities, what they are doing is remarkable. The record they have at home is amazing."
Opening up on how the Gyokeres transfer came about, Arteta said: "He'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.
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"When we had the issue with Kai [Havertz], and he became one of the main candidates."
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