Arsenal injury latest as Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze miss Sporting match

Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber have both missed Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP on Tuesday night.

Mikel Arteta has made eight changes from the Arsenal team that started the 2-1 defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday night.

David Raya returns in goal, while William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori start in defence.

In midfield, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice both start, while Noni Madueke, Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres are preferred in attack.

Gabriel was forced off in the defeat to Southampton at St Mary’s but is fit enough to start alongside Saliba.

Speaking ahead of the game, Arteta said he was hopeful that both Saka and Timber will be available for Arsenal’s Premier League match against Bournemouth on Saturday.

‘They haven’t travelled in yet, let’s see, hopefully they’re going to be ready for the weekend, if everything goes well,’ Arteta said on Monday.

‘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.’

Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze has now missed three games for Arsenal due to a calf injury.

When asked about a timeframe for Eze’s return last week, Arteta said: With Ebz I cannot put a finger [on a timeframe] there because I don’t know, because he’s a special character.’

Mikel Merino and Piero Hincapie also miss out on Arsenal’s trip to Portugal due to injury.

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