{"id":1020,"date":"2026-04-07T18:50:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T18:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1020"},"modified":"2026-04-07T18:50:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T18:50:25","slug":"arsenal-handed-triple-injury-boost-for-sporting-clash-but-mikel-arteta-rules-two-stars-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1020","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal handed triple injury boost for Sporting clash but Mikel Arteta rules two stars out"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_09e96c\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">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<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">19:31, 06 Apr 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 19:51, 06 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36976256\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta attends a press conference\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36976256.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2266608934.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36976256.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2266608934.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36976256.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2266608934.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36976256.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2266608934.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mikel Arteta gave an update on Arsenal's injury worries\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mikel Arteta gave an update on Arsenal&#8217;s injury worries<cite aria-label=\"Image: Rene Nijhuis\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Rene Nijhuis\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mikel Arteta has been given a huge fitness boost ahead of Arsenal\u2019s make-or-break week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mirrorfootballarsenal#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">  Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_4f362a\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Sporting manager Rui Borges gives Arsenal verdict as season threatens to unravel<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_4f362a\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Arsenal star told he&#8217;s &#8216;not what he was&#8217; as ex-Gunner talks up two transfers to replace him<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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: \u201cThey haven&#8217;t travelled and not ready yet, hopefully for the weekend if everything goes well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal are also without Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino, who are long-term injury absentees due to calf and foot injuries respectively.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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: &#8220;What Sporting have done at home is remarkable and you have to be very good to achieve such consistency.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36951803\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36951803\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.48\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bukayo Saka walks\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36951803.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/2_Mansfield-Town-v-Arsenal-Emirates-FA-Cup-Fifth-Round-One-Call-Stadium.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36951803.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/2_Mansfield-Town-v-Arsenal-Emirates-FA-Cup-Fifth-Round-One-Call-Stadium.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36951803.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/2_Mansfield-Town-v-Arsenal-Emirates-FA-Cup-Fifth-Round-One-Call-Stadium.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36951803.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/2_Mansfield-Town-v-Arsenal-Emirates-FA-Cup-Fifth-Round-One-Call-Stadium.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Bukayo Saka has not made the trip to Portugal\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Bukayo Saka has not made the trip to Portugal<cite aria-label=\"Image: PA\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: PA)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Asked about defeat at St Mary&#8217;s Stadium, Arteta said: &#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He added: &#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Join our new WhatsApp community<\/em><\/a>  and receive your daily dose of <em>Mirror<\/em> <em>Football<\/em> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Privacy Notice.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Find the best flights and hotels for Champions League games<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. 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