Arsenal hit with major injury scare ahead of Champions League quarter-final

Arsenal have suffered a major injury blow ahead a pivotal week in their season. 

On Wednesday night, the Gunners will host Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Arsenal are currently 1-0 up after the first leg following a hard fought 90 minutes, but it was a welcome relief after losses in the Carabao Cup final and shock loss to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals. 

However, any chance of building momentum vanished on Saturday when Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth and their lead at the top of the Premier League cut to six points by Manchester City. 

Arsenal stars Rice and Saka miss training

When Arsenal stepped out for open training on Tuesday, two star names were missing, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. 

Rice and Saka have often been the focal points of Arsenal's success during manager Mikel Arteta's reign. Rice has become a versatile midfielder in both attack and defence, while Saka brings flair to the Gunners' attack. 

The two England internationals are the headline names from Arsenal's absentees, but club captain Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calalfiori, Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino also missed training. 

With a season-defining match against Manchester City to follow after Wednesday's Champions League tie, a growing list of injuries is the last thing Arteta needs for what could be a huge five days. 

Manager Arteta provides Rice and Saka injury update

Arsenal manager Arteta has provided an update as to when Rice and Saka are expected to return during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. 

For Rice, Arteta cited the sheer amount of games the midfielder has played this season as a cause for the injury.

Rice has already played 46 times this season for the Gunners, and if they progress to the Champions League final, there is a chance he could play 56 games come the end of May. 

"He has played a lot of games, and that is part of the issue," Arteta said.

"He is going to try to do everything he possibly can to be with us tomorrow evening. That's for sure."

When it came to whether Saka is set for a return, Arteta was more vague. 

The 24-year-old has been battling with an achilles issue since the Carabao Cup final at the end of March, and is yet to return to the first team. 

Arteta dismissed any notion that Saka has suffered another setback, and is instead slowly progressing back to full fitness. 

"It was something he had been carrying for a while.

"It was an Achilles issue. No [setback], there is progression. Hopefully, it's a matter of days and not weeks.

"But he has to see how he responds when he increases his load."

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