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

Arsenal's midfield maestro Declan Rice is facing a race against time to be fit for the Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP, after missing training on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta has expressed his concerns, stating that Rice will do everything in his power to be available for the crucial match, but any injury would be a significant blow to the team. With Arsenal leading 1-0 on aggregate, they are also preparing for a pivotal Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday, which could decide the title. Arteta has chosen not to disclose the nature of Rice's injury, saying 'we have to wait and see how he is tomorrow.' Rice was seen limping during the second half of the match against Bournemouth, which Arteta attributed to the player's heavy workload. The Gunners are already missing several key players, including Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Riccardo Calafiori, who were absent from open training on Tuesday. Saka has been out since suffering an injury on England duty, but Arteta is hopeful he will return soon, saying 'it's about loading more and seeing where he's at.' Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze, who were only fit enough for the bench against Bournemouth, participated in training. The potential absence of Rice has raised concerns, as he is an indispensable player in Arteta's system, and there is no suitable replacement available due to Mikel Merino's long-term injury. If Rice is unable to play, Arsenal may consider alternative options, such as Christian Norgaard, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, or Myles Lewis-Skelly, although each of these options has its drawbacks. The upcoming week is crucial for Arsenal, with matches against Sporting CP, Manchester City, and Newcastle, and Arteta will be eager to have his key players available.