Champions League: Rice, Gabriel boost Arsenal ahead of Sporting clash

Arsenal have received a timely boost ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash with Sporting Lisbon, with Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhães both returning to training.

Rice withdrew from the England squad during the March international break following a medical assessment and missed Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Southampton.

Read Also: Arteta challenges Arsenal to turn Cup Final pain into treble push

Gabriel was also in doubt after suffering a knee issue during that loss on the south coast.

However, both players trained with the first team at London Colney on Monday, providing a significant lift for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ahead of Tuesday’s first-leg tie in Lisbon.

Belgian winger Leandro Trossard also returned to training, but Bukayo Saka remains unavailable after leaving the England camp early.

Premier League leaders Arsenal head into the match looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat, following their FA Cup exit and Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.

Despite their recent cup struggles, Arsenal remain in a commanding position domestically, sitting nine points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. However, another setback would intensify pressure on a squad that has struggled to deliver in high-stakes matches in recent seasons.

“Now we have to show what we are made of,” Arteta said after the weekend’s cup exit. “You have to adapt to difficult situations in the season.”