Arsenal’s open training session ahead of Wednesday night’s match against Sporting CP didn’t bring any good news, with fresh concerns about Declan Rice’s fitness.
Arsenal held their standard open training session in front of the media on Tuesday, with Champions League clubs required to offer an open training session the day prior to a match.
Unfortunately, the session didn’t bring any good news. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, and long-term absentee Mikel Merino all remain absent, and the expectation is therefore that none of them will return against Sporting on Wednesday.
To make matters worse, Declan Rice wasn’t spotted with the team, despite playing 90 minutes against both Sporting and Bournemouth last week.
Rice had been withdrawn from the March international break due to injury, and he missed Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Southampton in the first game back.
His subsequent inclusion against Sporting and Bournemouth had made those prior absences seem precautionary, but his non-inclusion in training suggests he may still be carrying something.
Mikel Arteta should provide an update in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon, but it’s another cause for concern ahead of a big week of football.
Arsenal need to see out their 1-0 lead over Sporting in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday, but there will also be one eye on the pivotal Premier League match against Manchester City this Sunday.
If the Gunners are missing Saka, Odegaard, Calafiori, Timber, Merino, and Rice for both matches, that would be genuinely worrying.