Arsenal injury news: Declan Rice not in open training ahead of Champions League quarter-final with Sporting CP with Bukayo Saka still missing
Declan Rice was not in Arsenal open training ahead of their Champions League quarter-final with Sporting CP; Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori were also absent amid their injuries; Arsenal play Man City on Sunday in crucial clash with title rival
Tuesday 14 April 2026 14:50, UK
Declan Rice is a doubt for Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final with Sporting CP after missing training on Tuesday.
Mikel Arteta says Rice will do everything he can to be fit for the last-eight clash on Wednesday night - but any injury to the midfielder would be a blow for the Gunners in the biggest week of their season.
With Arsenal needing to finish the job against Sporting CP on Wednesday, the Gunners lead 1-0 on aggregate, they also have a huge Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, which is billed as a 'title decider'.
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"We have to wait until tomorrow morning to see how a few of the boys are and make the right decision," said Arteta on Tuesday.
Asked what Rice's injury is, Arteta replied: "I don't want to do that, we have to wait and see how he is tomorrow. He wasn't able to train."
However, Rice did appear to be limping during the second half against Bournemouth after landing awkwardly - and Arteta admitted it is "part of the issue".
"He's played a lot of games," said Arteta. "That is part of the issue, but he's going to try and do everything he can to be with us that's for sure."
Arsenal also 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.
Saka has not appeared for Arsenal since getting injured on England duty and Arteta hopes he will be back in "days not weeks".
"It's something he was carrying for a while. It was an Achilles issue.
"No. It's progression. Hopefully it's a matter of days not weeks. It's about loading more and see where he's at."
Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze - who were only fit enough for the bench for the defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday - were both in training.
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.
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
