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

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed concern over the fitness of midfielder Declan Rice ahead of the Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP. Rice missed training on Tuesday, casting doubt over his participation in the crucial match. Arteta remains hopeful that Rice will recover in time, but the team's preparation has been further complicated by the absence of several key players, including Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Riccardo Calafiori. The Gunners are already facing a daunting task in their upcoming Premier League clash with Manchester City, and Rice's potential absence would deal a significant blow to their chances. Arteta acknowledged that Rice's injury is 'part of the issue' and attributed it to the player's heavy workload. The Arsenal boss is optimistic that Saka will return to action soon, predicting that his recovery will take 'days, not weeks.' Meanwhile, Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze, who were previously sidelined, have resumed training. The potential absence of Rice has sparked concerns over the team's midfield options, with Christian Norgaard being the only available alternative. Other players, such as Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, and Myles Lewis-Skelly, could potentially fill the void, but Arteta faces a difficult decision in preparing his team for the high-stakes match against Sporting CP.