Mikel Arteta has delivered an Arsenal injury update ahead of the Champions League quarter-final clash with Sporting CP in Lisbon. The travelling side have had injury worries surrounding Gabriel, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Piero Hincapie, Jurrien Timber and Leandro Trossard.

Arteta confirmed during Monday’s press conference that Saka and Timber will continue to be sidelined, with the pair remaining in England and omitted from the travelling squad. “They haven’t travelled in yet, let’s see, hopefully they’re going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well,” he said.

“That’s a massive boost because in recent days we’ve lost so many important players and that’s something that we need to change immediately.”

Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino will both be absent for the fixture due to ongoing fitness issues, while there are doubts over Piero Hincapie’s participation.

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Gabriel, Rice and Trossard are all set to feature, however, with Arteta giving a straightforward ‘yes, yes and yes’ when quizzed about their readiness.

Viktor Gyokeres was naturally a significant topic of discussion, given that he will be lining up against his former club. The Arsenal boss shared his thoughts on the striker and the rationale behind his signing.

“I think he’s very excited,” the Gunners manager continued. “He’s full of gratitude for his time here. The way he talks about the club, the players, the staff, everybody around the club.

“The experience that he had, how important that part of his journey in Sporting has been.”

Gyokeres is expected to receive a warm welcome at Estadio Jose Alvalade, though his former team-mate Nuno Santos will be absent as he continues to recover from a thigh injury picked up against Alverca last month, a match in which he lasted just 26 minutes.

Former West Ham midfielder Luis Guilherme also suffered an injury in that game, damaging his foot.

Fotis Ioannidis is another significant absentee, having been sidelined since January following a knee injury sustained in the League Cup clash against Vitoria Guimaraes.

Nevertheless, Sporting manager Rui Borges has been boosted by the return of Geovany Quenda after a near four-month absence with a metatarsal fracture.

Reflecting on his return this month, the 18-year-old said: “I’m very happy to be back. I’m training with the rest of the team and I feel very good. Mentally, I’m always at 100 per cent.

“All of the people who gave me strength have contributed greatly. We have goals to achieve and I have to do my best to help the team. We will continue working hard, because everything is possible. I think we will achieve our objectives.”