1 hour ago
28
Arsenal could be without several key first-team players when they travel to Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday
Arsenal travel to Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday on the back of a triple injury boost.
Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were all able to train for the Gunners at London Colney on Monday lunchtime despite various recent fitness issues.
It's great news for Mikel Arteta, who is desperate to get the club's season back on track following two disappointing domestic cup defeats to Manchester City and Southampton, respectively.
Still, the Spaniard is facing a potential headache in Portugal as there is a firm chance Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapie and Jurrien Timber will not be available.
None of those four players were pictured in training on Monday despite rumours Eze is closing in on a swift recovery following a recent calf injury.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
On the basis of those that were present in training, Arteta best XI to face Sporting is as follows: David Raya starts between the sticks with Riccardo Calafiori at left-back, Gabriel and William Saliba at right-back and Ben White or Cristhian Mosquera at right-back.
Given White has played a lot of football recently and also struggled, perhaps now is the time to hand Mosquera a start at right-back, a role he has played at various points this season most recently in the 2-0 win over Everton following Timber's injury.
In midfield, Martin Zubimendi, Rice and Odegaard should start together for the first time since the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at the Emirates in January.
On the right, Max Dowman is pushing for the nod over Noni Madueke but the England international should start after coming through Saturday's defeat unscathed following a recent knee issue.
Dowman is yet to start a game in either the Premier League or Champions League but has now started matches in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup as he continues to dazzle throughout his stunning breakthrough campaign.
Leandro Trossard could replace Gabriel Martinelli on the left with Viktor Gyokeres leading the line against his former employers.
Having reputable options from the bench could be crucial given Arsenal need to take a positive result back to London for next week's second leg at the Emirates.
Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Dowman, if he does not start, could all be exciting options in the second half, though the priority must be to stop Sporting from scoring.
The Primeira Liga outfit rattled in five goals against Bodo/Glimt in the last 16 second leg after losing the first leg 3-0 in Norway.
Choose Football London as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
English (US) ·