Arsenal injury crisis leaves Arteta with key selection calls

Q: Why is Mikel Arteta facing selection problems this week?

Arteta is dealing with an injury crisis that has left several key players uncertain or unavailable. Arsenal have two huge matches coming up, away to Sporting in the Champions League and at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League, so he may need to rely heavily on his squad depth.

Q: Will David Raya start against Sporting?

David Raya is expected to return in goal against Sporting. Kepa Arrizabalaga started the recent Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup defeat at Southampton, but Raya was left on the bench in both matches and looks set to reclaim the spot.

Q: Is William Saliba fit to play with Gabriel at centre-back?

Saliba and Gabriel are expected to be available to resume their first-choice partnership. Gabriel briefly raised concern after limping out against Southampton, but he was back in full training on Monday, and Saliba should also be ready after missing France duty.

Q: Will Bukayo Saka play against Sporting?

Saka's involvement looks increasingly unlikely. He missed Arsenal's last training session before the trip and has been described as being only 'on the edge' physically, so Arteta may have to plan without him.

Q: Who is likely to start up front for Arsenal in Portugal?

Viktor Gyokeres is the likeliest starter at centre-forward against Sporting. He scored from the bench at Southampton and is set for a return to Portugal against his former club, which could allow Kai Havertz to be used more sparingly.

Two games, two defeats, two trophies slip out of Arsenal's grasp. If they are to grab Champions League and/or Premier League glory they must bounce back this week.

Mikel Arteta called on his side to show what they are made of after the FA Cup loss at Southampton followed a Carabao Cup final defeat to Man City - but his selection options are significantly limited amid an injury crisis.

Arteta's causes for concern with City on the charge and Arsenal wobbling
**Got Sky? Watch Arsenal games LIVE on your phone**📱
**Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract**📺

Eleven Arsenal players ruled themselves out of international duty during the March break. That led to some jibes about the Gunners saving their energies for club football. But Arteta's selection at Southampton and a subsequent open training session on Monday suggested the Arsenal boss has serious problems on his hands.

With Sporting away in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday and then Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in a tricky Premier League encounter on Saturday, Arteta may need to delve deep into his squad to find solutions amid a season-defining run of games.

Goalkeeper

Image: Ross Stewart wheels away after giving Southampton the lead against Arsenal

Arteta was criticised for selecting Kepa Arrizabalaga for the Carabao Cup final, in which Arsenal's back-up keeper made a big error for Man City's opener. But he doubled down on backing Kepa by picking him again at Southampton, where Arsenal's defence was poor and shipped two goals to go out of the FA Cup. First-choice David Raya was an unused sub in both games and will surely come back in against Sporting and Bournemouth.

Who starts vs Sporting? The smart money will be on Raya.

Right-back

Image: Arsenal's Ben White was at fault for the first Southampton goal

Ben White made an error for Southampton's first goal on Saturday. The England international only came back into the starting XI after Jurrien Timber's groin injury. It is still unclear when Timber will return - he was not in the squad at St Mary's and was missing from open training on Monday morning. Arteta has no obvious alternative to White right now.

Also See:

Who starts vs Sporting? It looks like White will get the nod again.

Centre-back

"When a player is asking to be substituted, it's never good news," said Arteta after Gabriel limped out of the tie with Southampton, immediately casting doubt on his availability to face Sporting. Gabriel had ice on his left knee, having missed Brazil duty with pain in his right knee, but was back in full training with his team-mates on Monday.

His regular centre-back partner William Saliba replaced Gabriel but had missed France duty himself. Is he able to play a full 90? Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori are the other options in that position.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Could defeat to Southampton derail Arsenal's PL title ambitions?

Soccer Special's Michael Dawson and Kris Boyd have their say on what impact defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup could have on Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions.

Who starts vs Sporting? Arsenal's first-choice pair of Saliba and Gabriel look like they will be fit to resume their partnership, but Calafiori may be otherwise required in Portugal.

Left-back

Piero Hincapie had established himself as Arsenal's first-choice left-back but suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Ecuador during the international break, wasn't involved at Southampton and has not returned to training. Myles Lewis-Skelly played on Saturday, with Calafiori the other possible fit option.

Who starts vs Sporting? It looks like Calafiori or Lewis-Skelly will take up the spot.

Midfield

Image: Declan Rice reacts to Arsenal's loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final

Arsenal fans will be hoping to see Declan Rice back on the pitch on Wednesday, after he was back on the grass alongside his team-mates ahead of the trip to Portugal. Arteta suggested Rice and Bukayo Saka had been at "70 per cent" and "on the edge" when explaining why they pulled out of England duty and they subsequently weren't involved at St Mary's.

Martin Zubimendi came on as a sub at Southampton having experienced knee pain with Spain, while Martin Odegaard made his first start since January with Christian Norgaard fielded too.

Eberechi Eze is still unavailable due to a calf injury, while Mikel Merino is in a race to feature again this season after his foot surgery in February.

Who starts vs Sporting? Arteta may have to risk Rice, while captain Odegaard and Zubimendi are likely required to go again.

Wingers

Saka's involvement in the big games this week remains to be seen but looks increasingly unlikely after he was absent from Arsenal's last training session ahead of their flight. With that in mind, the return of Leandro Trossard was a boost following his hip issue. SIxteen-year-old Max Dowman and Gabriel Martinelli played the full 90 at Southampton.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Gabriel, Rice and Trossard train - but NO Saka as Arsenal prepare for Sporting clash

Arsenal train ahead of the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting - including a bizarre drill where the players tried to balance pens while dribbling - but there was no sign of Bukayo Saka.

Noni Madueke avoided a bad knee injury while with England and came off the bench at the weekend.

Who starts vs Sporting? Can Madueke start in the absence of Saka? Surely Dowman won't be asked to start again after a full shift at Southampton - but Martinelli might get another run-out on the left, with Trossard returning from injury.

Up front

Viktor Gyokeres made a goalscoring contribution from the bench at Southampton and will be itching to face his former club Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday. Kai Havertz, who played an attacking midfield role at Southampton, is another option at No 9, as is Gabriel Jesus, although he has largely had a bit-part role in Premier League and Champions League games of late.

Who starts vs Sporting? Back in Portugal, Gyokeres is surely nailed on for a start against his old side. That would give Havertz a reduced workload, with the German potentially coming back in against Bournemouth at the weekend.

[