{"id":1030,"date":"2026-04-07T19:05:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:05:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1030"},"modified":"2026-04-07T19:05:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:05:41","slug":"arsenal-injury-update-as-bukayo-saka-and-jurrien-timber-blow-for-sporting-cp-clash-confirmed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1030","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal injury update as Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber blow for Sporting CP clash confirmed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_ac806a\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the latest injuries at Arsenal ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting 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<div class=\"Byline_author-and-badge-wrapper__2dsv1\">\n<p><span><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_09e96c\">Amie Wilson<\/strong> Sports writer <\/span><span>  and <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_09e96c\">Bruna Reis<\/strong> Senior Sports Journalist<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">20:08, 06 Apr 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 20:27, 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=\"36976321\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bukayo Saka\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36976321.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Arsenal-v-Manchester-City-Carabao-Cup-Final.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36976321.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Arsenal-v-Manchester-City-Carabao-Cup-Final.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36976321.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Arsenal-v-Manchester-City-Carabao-Cup-Final.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36976321.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Arsenal-v-Manchester-City-Carabao-Cup-Final.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Bukayo Saka will miss Arsenal's Champions League clash with Sporting \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Bukayo Saka will miss Arsenal&#8217;s Champions League clash with Sporting <cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: 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\">Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has delivered a triple injury update with Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard all available for selection for the Champions League quarter-final clash at Sporting Clube de Portugal. There was, however, confirmation that Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka will not be ready for the match.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal face the Portuguese giants in the opening leg of the quarter-final on Tuesday evening (8pm kick-off), with the return leg scheduled just over a week later at the Emirates Stadium. Prior to the fixture, there were fitness concerns surrounding Gabriel, Rice, Saka, Piero Hincapie, Jurrien Timber and Leandro Trossard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino are sidelined for the tie through injury. When questioned in his pre-match press conference about whether Gabriel, Rice and Trossard were fit for the game, Arteta responded: &#8220;Yes, yes and yes.&#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-36976323\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36976323\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Eberechi Eze during an Arsenal game\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36976323.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Arsenal-FC-v-Bayer-04-Leverkusen-UEFA-Champions-League-202526-Round-of-16-Second-Leg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36976323.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Arsenal-FC-v-Bayer-04-Leverkusen-UEFA-Champions-League-202526-Round-of-16-Second-Leg.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36976323.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Arsenal-FC-v-Bayer-04-Leverkusen-UEFA-Champions-League-202526-Round-of-16-Second-Leg.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36976323.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Arsenal-FC-v-Bayer-04-Leverkusen-UEFA-Champions-League-202526-Round-of-16-Second-Leg.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Eberechi Eze will miss Arsenal's clash against Sporting CP\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Eberechi Eze will miss Arsenal&#8217;s clash against Sporting CP<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, providing an update on Timber and Saka, the Arsenal manager added: &#8220;They haven&#8217;t travelled in yet, let&#8217;s see, hopefully they&#8217;re going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;That&#8217;s a massive boost because in recent days we&#8217;ve lost so many important players and that&#8217;s something that we need to change immediately.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">JOIN US ON FB!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thedailystarsport#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Timber has been battling injury for the past three weeks, and appeared to be in contention for a comeback against Southampton. Yet he wasn&#8217;t named in the squad for the FA Cup encounter, with attention now turning to a potential weekend return ahead of the second leg.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It proved a similar scenario for Saka, who was missing from the squad against Southampton after cutting short his England duties. He will now be absent for the first leg versus Sporting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">One player who is anticipated to feature in the starting lineup is striker Viktor Gyokeres, who will face his previous club. The forward moved to Arsenal from Sporting in a transfer valued at approximately \u00a355 million during the summer window.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arteta has disclosed that he has held discussions with Gyokeres to gain valuable intelligence about Arsenal&#8217;s opposition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Of course I did, to understand the dynamics the culture and to have more information about them that we can use in our favour,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"Factbox_factbox-container__hSMOa\" id=\"factbox\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Entering Factbox content\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36951233\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"factbox\" data-testid=\"factbox\">\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs Factbox_heading-three__NXU52 __className_f9ba33\">Grand National 2026 Preview: 48-Page Guide with Tips, Runners &#038; Expert Analysis<\/h3>\n<div class=\"Factbox_content__xdMV8\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The 48-page guide to the 2026 Randox Grand National is packed with interviews, features, stats and all you need for the 178th running of the world&#8217;s greatest steeplechase &#8211; <a aria-label=\"click here to order your copy todayLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.regionalnewspapers.co.uk\/grand-national-preview-2026-5688-p.asp?utm_source=Grand+National+2026+-+All&amp;utm_medium=converse&amp;utm_campaign=Grand+National+2026&amp;utm_id=Grand+National+2026\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">click here to order your copy today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36951232\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36951232\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36951232.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GRAND-NATIONAL-NO-BRANDING-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36951232.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GRAND-NATIONAL-NO-BRANDING-1.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36951232.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GRAND-NATIONAL-NO-BRANDING-1.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36951232.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GRAND-NATIONAL-NO-BRANDING-1.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;A lot of qualities, what they are doing is remarkable. The record they have at home is amazing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking about how the Gyokeres deal materialised, Arteta explained: &#8220;He&#8217;s been on the radar for years, but more recent moments when we look at it, he was one of the top targets was around December of last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;When we had the issue with Kai (Havertz), and he became one of the main candidates.&#8221;<\/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>Watch Chisora vs Wilder live on DAZN<\/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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