Arsenal dey face serious injury wahala as dem prepare for Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP. Declan Rice no show for open training on Tuesday, and dis one dey cause concern for Gunners fans.
Rice absence no mean say e don rule out for Wednesday night match, but di timing bad well-well. Arsenal get one leg inside semi-final after Kai Havertz last-minute goal for first leg give dem 1-0 lead, but now injury problems dey threaten di whole plan.
Di problem no be only Rice own. Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori all miss training too. Dem dey manage injuries for weeks now, and none of dem show face for Tuesday session.
Small good news be say Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze dey train. Dem two only fit for bench for Saturday match wey Arsenal lose to Bournemouth, but at least dem dey work towards full fitness.
Di Rice situation dey pain Arsenal fans pass. E be one of Arsenal best players, and Mikel Arteta system depend on am well-well. To make matter worse, Mikel Merino wey be Rice backup for midfield dey on long-term injury list.
If Rice no fit play, wetin Arsenal go do? Christian Norgaard na only other sitting midfielder wey dey available, but dem see am more as backup to Martin Zubimendi. Kai Havertz fit continue for midfield with Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze, but dat setup dey too attacking and fit expose Zubimendi wey confidence don low.
Other options include Leandro Trossard wey don show say e fit play midfield, and Myles Lewis-Skelly wey fit fill Rice role. But no option dey perfect for dis crucial period.
Dis injury wahala come at worst time. Arsenal need finish job against Sporting CP on Wednesday, den face Manchester City for Premier League on Sunday. Dat City match dey live on Sky Sports and people dey call am ‘title decider’.
For Sporting CP side, dem get Morten Hjulmand back after suspension, and key forward Luis Suarez dey available after administrative error don clear. Dem dey almost full strength and dem remember how dem turn 5-0 against Bodo/Glimt for previous round.
Arsenal creativity don reduce recently, and dem lucky to escape Portugal with first-leg lead. Sporting know say opportunity dey for big upset, especially as Arsenal dey wobble small as season enter do-or-die territory.
Match go hold at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Kick-off na 8pm BST. TNT Sports go show am for UK subscribers, and Arsenal go do 75-minute buildup show wey dem dey call ‘Live from N5’.
Two Arsenal players get yellow card warning. Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi both get one yellow card to go before suspension for any semi-final first leg. Dem need careful for tackles.
Arsenal win four times against Sporting before, lose once, and draw three times. Bookmakers dey strongly favor Arsenal to progress, but with all dis injury problems, nothing dey sure for football.