Last Updated: April 16, 2026 | 06:34 BST
A battered and bruised Arsenal squad managed to book their spot in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday night, with a goalless draw against Sporting CP at the Emirates proving enough to secure a 1-0 aggregate victory. Mikel Arteta was without a number of big-name stars for that game, with Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice among those missing and giving the manager a headache ahead of a Premier League title showdown versus Manchester City on Sunday.
Martin Odegaard reveals new injury
Arsenal midfielder Odegaard has confirmed that he’s suffered another knee injury after going down off the ball in the first-leg win over Sporting CP this month. Although the Norway international has stressed that he hopes the injury isn’t too bad, there’s a huge question mark over whether or not he’ll be available to play against Man City at the Etihad on Sunday.
“I had to go off during the second half of that game in Portugal last week, feeling my knee, which is why I missed the game at the weekend,” said Odegaard. “I caught it a little bit against Sporting, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad.
“I’m desperate to get back as soon as possible because this is the crucial period of the season, in the Premier League and Champions League.”
What about Declan Rice?
Like Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, Saka and Odegaard, Rice was absent in Arsenal’s draw with Sporting CP on Wednesday. The England midfielder missed the open training session prior to that game and it remains to be seen whether or not Arteta was simply refusing to risk him against the Portuguese giants this week, or if there’s an issue that’s giving him a serious concern ahead of the trip to Manchester on Sunday. At this stage, Mikel Merino is the only player who’s definitely out of that game against Man City.
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