Both Arsenal and Sporting CP are missing several players ahead of tonight's Champions League meeting
11:40, 07 Apr 2026
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
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Arsenal are without five key players in Lisbon
Arsenal travel to Sporting CP without five key first-team players but the Portuguese outfit are also missing a number of integral stars ahead of the meeting.
The Gunners are looking to take a big step towards the Champions League semi-finals as they look to reach the last-four for the second consecutive season for the first time in their illustrious history.
But they will have to play the first leg without both Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber while Arsenal have also confirmed on their website that Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapie and Mikel Merino remain sidelined.
Sporting are without suspended skipper Morten Hjulmand, who scored against England for Denmark at Euro 2024.
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Hjulmand is serving a one-match ban after accumulating five Champions League yellow cards, including one in each of his past two matches against Bodo/Glimt.
Meanwhile, Sporting also have several injury issues of their own despite former Arsenal target Ivan Fresneda returning to training following recent illness.
The Primeira Liga side are also without Greek striker Fotis Ioannidis, who has been sidelined since February due to a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Chelsea-bound winger Geovany Quenda is currently rebuilding his fitness following a metatarsal fracture.
Quenda recently spent time in London visiting Chelsea's training facilities and is now closing in on a comeback.
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal FC (L) dribbles Morten Hjulmand of Sporting CP (R) during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Arsenal FC
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Morten Hjulmand (right) won't be able to play against Arsenal this time around due to suspension(Image: Getty)
He trained with the group on Monday but speaking after the 4-2 win over Santa Clara on Friday, Sporting boss Rui Borges indicated the forward needs time to get back up to speed following a substantial four-month lay-off.
Former West Ham winger Luis Guilherme and left-back Nuno Santos are also absent due to injury, meaning Sporting have five players out in total, just like Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta is under no illusions that a tough match awaits his side as Sporting have lost just once all season in the Primeira Liga.
He said when quizzed on the challenge ahead: "Before we played them as well, when you look at what they've done, especially at home, the way they have behaved in this Champions League, the teams that they have beaten, we know the difficulty of the match. That's why we want it even more."
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Arsenal also come into the game on the back of two straight defeats having lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City and FA Cup quarter-final to Southampton.
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