Arsenal will be without key players Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber for their trip to face Sporting CP in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Both players were absent during Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Southampton FC in the FA Cup last weekend, raising concerns about their fitness ahead of the crucial European tie.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that neither Saka nor Timber will recover in time to feature in Tuesday’s game.
Their absence is a significant blow for Arsenal as they prepare for a tough away fixture in Lisbon, with the team now expected to rely on other squad options to step up in their bid for a positive result.
But in an injury boost for Arteta, key trio Declan Rice, Gabriel and Leandro Trossard are fit for the game in Portugal.
On Saka and Timber, Arteta said: “They haven’t travelled. They’re not ready yet.
“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.
