London, April 14: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Declan Rice’s fitness. The team is set to face Sporting CP in the decisive second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Thursday at the Emirates Stadium.
Rice was absent from the open training session at the Sobha Realty Training Center on Tuesday, raising doubts about his participation in this crucial match.
The England midfielder recently returned to the squad after withdrawing from an international match against Japan. He played in the first leg in Lisbon and captained the team during Arsenal’s surprising Premier League defeat to Bournemouth.
Discussing the situation, Arteta did not give a definitive answer regarding Rice’s availability. He stated, “We will have to wait until Wednesday morning to see how some of our players are doing. Only then will I make the right decision with them.”
Rice’s absence from training adds to Arsenal’s growing list of concerns, as several key players are already unavailable. Bukayo Saka remains sidelined, having not played since the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City. Captain Martin Ødegaard is also struggling with fitness, while defensive options Jurriën Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are still out of group training.
Despite these setbacks, Arsenal enters the second leg with a narrow one-goal advantage from the first match in Portugal.
Currently, Arsenal tops the Premier League table with 70 points from 32 matches, but their lead has diminished following recent losses. The defeat to Bournemouth by 2-1 has allowed Manchester City, with 64 points in second place, to close the gap, increasing pressure as the season nears its conclusion. With only a few matches left, every point and every player has become crucial.
Immediately following the match against Sporting, Arsenal will face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. This clash could prove decisive in the race for the Premier League title. A loss there could completely alter the dynamics of the title race.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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