How £44m Chelsea summer arrival could dent Arsenal trophy hopes as injury boost confirmed

Geovany Quenda has the chance to become a Chelsea fan-favourite at Stamford Bridge before he's even kicked a ball.

Geovany Quenda hopes to be available when Sporting CP face Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final next week, football.london understands.

The 18-year-old winger, who Chelsea signed from the Portuguese giants last summer in a deal worth nearly £44million, suffered a metatarsal fracture back in December and underwent surgery on the problem. In collaboration with Sporting, he began a rehabilitation programme at Cobham, where he could be monitored by Blues medical staff.

While in the United Kingdom, Quenda capitalised on the opportunity to learn the language, speak to Liam Rosenior and arrange his housing situation ahead of his arrival in the summer. After nearly four months on the sidelines, the Portugal Under-21 international has turned his attention to finishing the season strongly at the José Alvalade Stadium.

football.london understands that Quenda travelled back to his homeland over the weekend as he looks to put the finishing touches on his recovery. It's said that the teenager hopes to be available for selection when Sporting play Arsenal in the European top-flight next week.

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The Portuguese giants will face Mikel Arteta's side in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, April 7. Although the Gunners may fancy their chances, having not yet lost in the competition this term, Sporting will have a little extra time to prepare for the game.

After the international break, Rui Borges' side will host Santa Clara on Friday night, whereas Arsenal don't lock horns with Southampton in the FA Cup until Saturday evening. That said, Arteta has a point to prove, and it could be difficult to stand in his way.

Speaking to reporters before facing Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16, the Spaniard insisted that Arsenal should be regarded as one of the best teams in Europe. Arteta said: "I believe so.

"This is football and you have to show it tomorrow night. I know that you have to be so clear what the game is going to demand. You need to perform on the day. Champions League is about the day.

"Within that day, there are moments and you have to be better than the opponent. The players certainly have more experience in the competition.

"When I joined, a big part of the team had never played in this competition. That's obviously something that is necessary, like in any other competition. They understand it better. Now we have to perform."

At the start of the season, Arteta also outlined his ambition to win the Champions League. In September 2025, the Arsenal boss said: "Well, that tells you, with our long history, how difficult it is because we haven't won it yet, and that's the opportunity.

"That's how I see it, but pressure is the opportunity that drives that energy and that willingness to be better every single day. Every decision has to be with that standard and with those expectations, so let's give our best chance to try to do it.

"The big clubs [who have won it], they try seven, eight, nine times, and they maybe win two. So, in this competition, it's going to be one that you fail much more than you succeed.

"That's the nature of it. That's the history of our club, and that's what we want to change..."