Arsenal's preparations for their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP have been dealt a blow, as midfielder Declan Rice is uncertain to play due to an injury. Rice missed training on Tuesday, and manager Mikel Arteta will wait until the next day to assess his condition. The Gunners are already missing several key players, including Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Riccardo Calafiori, and Rice's potential absence would be a significant setback.
Arteta expressed concern over Rice's workload, saying, 'He's played a lot of games, that is part of the issue.' The team is also preparing for a crucial Premier League match against Manchester City on Sunday, and Arteta must make key decisions about his lineup. Other players, such as Christian Norgaard, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard, could potentially fill in for Rice, but the situation remains uncertain.