Arsenal are expected to be without Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah against Sporting CP on Thursday, but early assessments on Trossard have been positive.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal receives medical treatment during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on March 04, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal receives medical treatment during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on March 04, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The Evening Standard report that Arsenal are optimistic that Leandro Trossard didn’t suffer a serious groin injury against Bournemouth at the weekend.

Despite being forced out of the game in the first half, initial assessments have been positive. Whilst further tests are expected to provide more clarity, the early hope is that Trossard will be back within the fortnight.

The bad news is that both Trossard and Eddie Nketiah are expected to miss Thursday’s game against Sporting CP.

Nketiah missed the Bournemouth match with an ankle injury, and he’s also a doubt for Sunday’s game against Fulham.

The Standard claim Emile Smith Rowe is in line for a start in place of Nketiah and Trossard, as well as Gabriel Jesus, who isn’t quite fully fit yet.

It’s also possible Mikel Arteta could use Gabriel Martinelli up front with Reiss Nelson or Smith Rowe on the wing, as was the case in the Bournemouth win.

Arsenal's English midfielder Reiss Nelson (C) celebrates after scoring his team third goal of the team during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 4, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s English midfielder Reiss Nelson (C) celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal of the team during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 4, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Smith Rowe initially came on in place of Trossard against Bournemouth, before being substituted for Nelson later in the match having provided an assist.

But this was a decision made for fitness reasons as much as anything else.

Smith Rowe is still only recently back from injury, and Arsenal didn’t originally plan for him to play such a significant role in the Bournemouth clash.

Fortunately, Nelson had a huge impact as the substitute’s substitute on Saturday. It looks like the young trio of Martinelli, Smith Rowe, and Nelson are going to need to cover those two positions for a bit longer.