Injury Concerns for Arsenal as Rice's Fitness Remains Uncertain Ahead of Champions League Quarter-Final

Arsenal's preparations for their crucial Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP have been dealt a blow, as midfielder Declan Rice is facing a race against time to be fit for the match. Rice missed training on Tuesday, and while manager Mikel Arteta remains hopeful that he will be available, the Gunners are already without several key players, including Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Riccardo Calafiori. Saka has been sidelined with an Achilles issue since his last appearance for England, but Arteta is optimistic that he will return to action soon, stating that it's a matter of 'days, not weeks.' With Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze returning to training after being limited to the bench against Bournemouth, Arsenal are facing a challenging week, including a Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday. The absence of Rice would be a significant setback, as he is an integral part of Arteta's system, and there is no clear replacement for him. Christian Norgaard is the only other available option as a sitting midfielder, but he is considered a backup to Martin Zubimendi rather than Rice. Alternative options, such as Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, or Myles Lewis-Skelly, could fill the void, but it's not ideal preparation for a critical week in Arsenal's season.