Arsenal Faces Uncertainty Over Declan Rice's Availability for Champions League Quarter-Final

Arsenal's preparations for their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP have been dealt a blow, as Declan Rice is uncertain to play due to an injury. Rice missed training on Tuesday, and although Mikel Arteta is hopeful he will recover in time, the midfielder's potential absence would be a significant setback for the Gunners. With a crucial Premier League match against Manchester City looming, Arsenal's squad is already depleted, missing key players such as Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Riccardo Calafiori. Arteta acknowledged that Rice's injury, which may be related to his heavy workload, is a concern, but the player is determined to be fit for the upcoming games. The Gunners' options to replace Rice are limited, with Christian Norgaard being the only available alternative as a sitting midfielder. Other players, such as Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, and Myles Lewis-Skelly, could potentially fill the void, but it would require significant adjustments to the team's lineup.