Declan Rice was not present in Arsenal training the day before their Champions League quarter-final with Sporting CP.
Rice’s absence from training does not mean he is ruled out of the last-eight clash on Wednesday night, but it is a concern given this is a huge week in Arsenal’s season.
With Arsenal needing to finish the job against Sporting CP on Wednesday – Gunners lead 1-0 on aggregate – Arsenal also have a huge Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, which is billed as a ‘title decider’.
Arsenal have been missing Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori in recent weeks – and none of them were in open training on Tuesday morning.
Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze – who were only fit enough for the bench for the defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday – were both in training.
Mikel Arteta will give more information about Rice’s absence from training – and the rest of Arsenal’s injury news – in his press conference at 1.30pm.
Tim Sherwood and Sam Blitz are on Fan Club on Sky Sports News to take a closer look at why Arsenal’s nervous mentality could be a key factor in whether they win the Premier League title or not.
Who could replace Rice?
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:
It’s the last bit of news Arsenal wanted to hear – more injury woes. But this may be the most agonising injury concern of the lot.
Not only is Declan Rice one of Arsenal’s best players – an irreplaceable cog in Mikel Arteta’s system – but there is also no back-up option for him. That’s because Mikel Merino, Rice’s back-up in his midfield position, is also sidelined with a long-term injury.
So where do Arsenal go from here if Rice is missing from their Champions League quarter-final second leg?
Christian Norgaard is Arsenal’s only other available option as a sitting midfielder, but he is deemed as a back-up to Martin Zubimendi, rather than for the more attacking Rice.
Kai Havertz could continue in midfield, alongside Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze – but that is a very attacking set-up – and could expose Zubimendi, who is out of confidence at the moment.
There are other options. Leandro Trossard has shown he could play in midfield – and even started last season’s Premier League game away at the Etihad Stadium, though was sent off before half-time. Myles Lewis-Skelly is another player who could fill Rice’s role.
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz looks at the influence Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final win has had over Arsenal and whether it has revealed a blueprint in how to beat the Gunners.
Either way, it is not ideal preparation in what is a big week not just in Arsenal’s season – but also Mikel Arteta’s tenure at the club.
Arsenal’s remaining fixtures
April 15: Sporting CP (H), Champions League quarter-final second leg, kick-off 8pm
April 19: Man City (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm
April 25: Newcastle (H), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 5.30pm
April 29: Barcelona/Atletico Madrid (A), potential Champions League semi-final first leg, kick-off 8pm
May 2: Fulham (H), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 5.30pm
May 5: Barcelona/Atletico Madrid (H), potential Champions League semi-final second leg, kick-off 8pm
May 10: West Ham (A), Premier League, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm
May 17: Burnley (H), Premier League, kick-off TBC
May 24: Crystal Palace (A), Premier League, kick-off 4pm
May 30: Potential Champions League final
