Arteta Faces Selection Conundrums Amid Arsenal's Injury Crisis

Following two consecutive defeats, Arsenal's chances of securing Champions League and Premier League glory have taken a hit. The team must now regroup and bounce back in a critical week ahead. Mikel Arteta has called upon his players to demonstrate their mettle after losses in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup final. However, his selection options are severely limited due to an injury crisis, with eleven players ruled out of international duty in March. This has raised questions about the team's energy conservation for club football. Arteta's recent team selections and an open training session suggest the gravity of the situation. With a Champions League quarter-final against Sporting and a Premier League encounter against Bournemouth looming, Arteta may need to delve deep into his squad for solutions. The manager has been criticized for his choice of goalkeeper, with Kepa Arrizabalaga making a crucial error in the Carabao Cup final. Despite this, Arteta has continued to back Kepa, selecting him again in the FA Cup loss to Southampton. First-choice keeper David Raya is expected to return against Sporting and Bournemouth. Ben White, who made an error in the Southampton game, is likely to start against Sporting, while Jurrien Timber's ankle injury may keep him out until the Bournemouth match. Gabriel, who limped out of the Southampton tie, has resumed full training and is available for the Sporting game. Centre-back partner William Saliba replaced Gabriel but had missed France duty himself, raising concerns about his ability to play a full 90 minutes. Other options in this position include Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori. The left-back spot is another area of concern, with Piero Hincapie injured and Myles Lewis-Skelly or Calafiori potential replacements. The return of Declan Rice on Tuesday will be a boost for Arsenal, after he was back in training ahead of the trip to Portugal. Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard are likely to feature again, while Eberechi Eze remains unavailable due to a calf injury. Bukayo Saka's absence will continue against Sporting, but Arteta hopes he will return for the Bournemouth game. Leandro Trossard's return from a hip issue is a positive, and he may start alongside Gabriel Martinelli on the left. Noni Madueke, who avoided a serious knee injury, is another option. Viktor Gyokeres, who scored from the bench at Southampton, is eager to face his former club Sporting, and may start alongside Kai Havertz or Gabriel Jesus.