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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Arsenal XI vs Sporting CP: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Champions League

European mission: Arsenal - (ES Composite)

Arsenal are set to be without key stars once again when they face Sporting for a place in the Champions League semi-finals.

Mikel Arteta's side are in pole position to progress through to the last-four after a 1-0 win in Lisbon last week.

The Gunners secured that victory without Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, and Arteta indicated that at least one of them will miss out again.

"Maybe one of them, let's see," Arteta said on Tuesday.

However, the Spaniard later suggested that Saka is unlikely to be involved for the first time since the international break.

"It's something that he was carrying for a while," Arteta said. "It was an Achilles issue.

"It's progression but hopefully it's going to be a matter of days and not weeks. But he has to see when the load is more how he responds to that kind of progression."

Declan Rice is also a doubt. He missed training on Tuesday with an issue he picked up in the defeat to Bournemouth over the weekend.

However, asked what that injury was, Arteta responded: "I don't want to do that. We have to wait and see. Obviously he wasn't available to train."

Eberechi Eze is now fit again after a calf injury and is pushing to come back into the starting lineup, especially with Martin Odegaard unlikely to be involved.

Kai Havertz netted a late winner is Lisbon last week but could have to settle for a place on the bench again, unless Arteta decides to drop Viktor Gyokeres to the bench against his former club.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Norgaard; Madueke, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres

Injured: Merino, Saka

Doubts: Odegaard, Calafiori, Timber, Rice

Time and date: 8pm BST on Saturday, April 14, 2026

Venue: Emirates Stadium

How to watch: TNT Sports

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