Why isn’t Bukayo Saka playing for Arsenal against Sporting in Champions League quarterfinal?
In the first leg of the UCL last eight, Arsenal and Sporting CP do battle today at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is not fit to face Sporting CP in the Champions League today, but Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is optimistic the winger will return for Saturday’s Premier League game against Bournemouth.
Saka and Timber “having trouble”
Arteta says Saka is “not ready” to return against Sporting, after the 24-year-old sat out last Saturday’s FA Cup loss to Southampton with an undisclosed injury.
A week before Arsenal’s shock cup exit, Saka’s fitness issues had seen him leave the England squad midway through the March international break.
Speaking to reporters ahead of today’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg, Arteta said the game in Portugal will also come slightly too soon for fullback Jurrien Timber, who has an ankle injury.
“No, [Saka and Timber] are having trouble, they’re not ready yet,” the Arsenal head coach said. “Let’s see, hopefully they’re going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well, and that’s a massive boost because in recent days we’ve lost so many important players and that’s something that we need to change immediately.”
In Lisbon, Arsenal will also be without Eberichi Eze (calf), Piero Hincapié (hamstring) and Mikel Merino (foot).
Key trio fit for Sporting first leg, Arteta says
In better news for the North Londoners, however, Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard are all available for the opening leg against Sporting.
Gabriel had given the Gunners a scare when a knee problem forced him off in the second half of the defeat at Southampton, while Rice and Trossard both missed the game at St. Mary’s altogether.
Arsenal’s potential XI vs Sporting CP: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Gyökeres, Martinelli
Sporting CP vs Arsenal: kickoff times, how to watch
Sporting and Arsenal face off at the Estádio José Alvalade today, Tuesday April 7, with kickoff in Lisbon scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT. Viewers in the U.S. can tune in on Paramount+ and ViX.
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