Sporting CP vs Arsenal: eight players could miss Champions League clash

Mikel Arteta has confirmed Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber will miss the Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon, with Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino also sidelined

Mikel Arteta has provided crucial Arsenal injury updates ahead of the Champions League quarter-final encounter with Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lisbon. The away side have had fitness concerns surrounding Gabriel, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Piero Hincapie, Jurrien Timber and Leandro Trossard.

Arteta revealed during Monday's press conference that Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber will remain unavailable, with the duo staying in England and left out of the travelling party.

"They haven't travelled in yet, let's see, hopefully they're going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well," he said. "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."

Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino will miss out for the fixture with their ongoing fitness concerns while there are question marks over Piero Hincapie's involvement.

Meanwhile, Gabriel, Rice and Trossard are all ready for the match, with Arteta confirming with a straightforward 'yes, yes and yes', when questioned about their availability.

Viktor Gyokeres was understandably a major talking point, given he will face his former club. The Arsenal manager offered his perspective on the striker and the reasoning behind his acquisition too.

"I think he's very excited," the Gunners boss continued.

"He's full of gratitude for his time here. The way he talks about the club, the players, the staff, everybody around the club.

"The experience that he had, how important that part of his journey in Sporting has been."

Gyokeres is anticipated to receive a cordial reception at Estadio Jose Alvalade, although his former colleague Nuno Santos will be unavailable as he remains sidelined with a thigh problem sustained against Alverca last month, a fixture in which he managed just 26 minutes.

Ex-West Ham midfielder Luis Guilherme also picked up an injury in that encounter, damaging his foot.

Fotis Ioannidis is another notable absence, having been ruled out since January following a knee injury sustained in the League Cup fixture against Vitoria Guimaraes.

However, Lions boss Rui Borges has welcomed back Geovany Quenda after an almost four-month lay-off with a metatarsal fracture.

Discussing his comeback this month, the 18 year old said: "I'm very happy to be back. I'm training with the rest of the team and I feel very good. Mentally, I'm always at 100 per cent.

"All of the people who gave me strength have contributed greatly. We have goals to achieve and I have to do my best to help the team. We will continue working hard, because everything is possible. I think we will achieve our objectives."