Arsenal injury latest as Mikel Arteta gives update on Rice, Saka and Timber ahead of Man City clash

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Manchester City host Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday in a huge contest at the top of the Premier League table.

Mikel Arteta refused to be drawn on the availability of his injured Arsenal stars as the build-up to Sunday's crunch Premier League showdown with Manchester City continues.

The Gunners have a Champions League date with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday and Arteta faced the media on Tuesday afternoon where he was coy on the injury issues at the club.

"We have to wait until tomorrow morning to see how some of the boys are," he said. Arsenal were rocked by Declan Rice missing training on Tuesday and asked specifically about whether he could share an update on the midfielder, Arteta said: "I don't want to do that. We will have to wait and see in the morning."

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Rice did not train on Tuesday ahead of Arsenal's Champions League tie with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night. The Gunners lead their quarter-final 1-0 after the first leg in Portugal, with a place in the semi-finals and a date with either Atletico Madrid or Barcelona up for grabs.

Rice was fit enough to feature in Arsenal's weekend defeat to Bournemouth but his absence raises doubts about whether the England international will be fit to play against City.

It's not the only injury concern Arteta has, with Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber also sidelined. Arteta said 'maybe one of them' would be available for the Sporting clash, before adding, 'let's see'.

Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori all also missed training on Tuesday and are doubts for the City clash.

Saka has missed Arsenal’s last three matches, while captain Odegaard, in and out of the side through injury this season, was not fit enough for Arsenal’s loss against Bournemouth last weekend. Timber, one of Arsenal’s standout performers so far, last featured in a 2-0 win against Everton a month ago.