Preview: Sporting CP vs Arsenal – Predictions, team news, predicted line-ups – Read Arsenal F.C.

Arsenal host Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday night at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

The Gunners eased past Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round, comfortably dispatching the German side 3-1 over two legs. However, since overcoming Kasper Hjulmand’s outfit, Mikel Arteta’s side have lost the Carabao Cup final and been dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship high-flyers Southampton.

Thus, it’s pivotal that the North Londoners put an end to this mini-slump ahead of the resumption of the Premier League on Saturday by bringing a positive result back from Lisbon to N5. A potential semi-final encounter with either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid awaits them, and Arteta will no doubt use these exciting match-ups as fuel to motivate his team upon their trip to the Portuguese capital.

Arsenal team news vs Sporting, Gabriel Magalhaes injury update

Arsenal have several potential injury issues to contend with heading to Portugal. Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie and Leandro Trossard all missed the visit to St. Mary’s on Saturday, while Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off with a fitness issue.

Arteta was coy on Gabriel’s potential availability for the Sporting first leg, and the manner in which the Brazilian limped off the pitch on the south coast was concerning. It remains to be seen whether or not he’ll feature at the Jose Alvalade stadium.

Meanwhile, Saka and Rice are both said to be in contention to feature against the Primeira Liga giants. Arteta confirmed after the Southampton game that both players were close to featuring at St. Mary’s, and they should therefore be available in Portugal.

Hincapie’s fitness status isn’t yet known, although it’s likely that the Gunners will be cautious with the Ecuadorian while they have access to two other left-backs in Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Trossard and Timber should be in contention to play a role in this match, although Arteta has yet to comment on the two players’ conditions.

Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino remain absent with calf and foot problems respectively.

Predicted Arsenal XI vs Sporting

After naming a makeshift side away at Southampton, Arteta is likely to revert to something more conventional in Lisbon. The majority of the Spaniard’s key players should be back and available, and he’ll therefore deploy a typical set-up, with just a few areas of contention.

David Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel will all start, although Cristian Mosquera is likely to step in for the Brazil international if he isn’t deemed fit. Timber will start at right-back if he passes a late fitness test, with Ben White dropping to the bench.

Calafiori may be favoured at left-back if Hincapie isn’t ready, while Rice and Martin Zubimendi will return to Arsenal’s midfield. Martin Odegaard produced a positive return performance against the Saints, and will likely be rewarded for this showing with a start against Sporting.

Meanwhile, Saka, Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres will likely form the Gunners’ front three again, if the two wide players are fit enough to play from the start. The likes of Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli will be waiting in reserve.

Predicted Arsenal line-up vs Sporting: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Feet, Gyokeres, Trossard.

Sporting vs Arsenal Prediction

Sporting currently sit second in the Portuguese top flight, five points behind leaders Porto, who have played a game more than Rui Borges’ side. They have a crucial clash against Benfica to come, as well as a cup final against Porto to look forward to, and thus, Borges may have his eyes set on other prizes.

That said, this is the first time Sporting have ever reached this stage of the competition, and they’ll be eager to prove that this was no mirage. Ultimately, however, it shouldn’t matter.

Even if the Gunners play a conservative game in the first leg, they should have far too much for a side they are significantly stronger than. If they aren’t able to overcome Sporting, then serious questions will be asked of them.

Prediction: Sporting 1-2 Arsenal