Arsenal handed injury boost for Sporting clash but Arteta rules two stars out

Arsenal have been hit with a raft of injury concerns in the build-up to their Champions League quarter final first leg against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night

Mikel Arteta has been given a huge fitness boost ahead of Arsenal’s make-or-break week.

Arsenal face Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of the Champions League on Tuesday night. And then just four days later they face Bournemouth with the chance to go 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Brazil defender Gabriel has been ruled fit to face Sporting after going off in the 2-1 defeat by Southampton on Saturday night, while Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have also made the trip to Portugal.

And the injury news is also positive for the weekend with Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber also hoping to return against Bournemouth after injury lay-offs. Arteta said on Saka and Timber: “They haven't travelled and not ready yet, hopefully for the weekend if everything goes well."

Arsenal are also without Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino, who are long-term injury absentees due to calf and foot injuries respectively.

Arsenal have lost back to back games with Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and then lost at Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Bizarrely, they have never beaten a Portuguese side away from home in a European knock-out tie. Sporting are hoping to reach their first ever Champions League semi final. Arteta added: "What Sporting have done at home is remarkable and you have to be very good to achieve such consistency."

Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Southampton on Saturday night, making it back-to-back defeats following the Carabao Cup final loss against Manchester City before the international break.

Asked about defeat at St Mary's Stadium, Arteta said: "Have some perspective how difficult what we have done up till now. Feel the pain, use it to improve. We are very clear what happened, why it happened. This is football."

He added: "I think when you have the opportunity of the season that we have. Focus on the pressing and the things we have to do. Be very clear on what has taken us to where we are."