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Set to face Sporting CP in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, Arsenal might be dealing once again with the absence of star Bukayo Saka. Arsenal host the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash against Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium this Wednesday, looking to protect a slim lead and advance to the final four. While the Gunners enter as heavy favorites, star winger Bukayo Saka has been entirely left out of the Gunners’ squad. Bukayo Saka won’t be featuring in the return leg against Sporting CP due to injury. The England international was widely expected to return for Saturday’s fixture against Bournemouth but failed to make the squad; his subsequent absence from Tuesday’s training session further dims the prospects of him playing a role in this continental decider. Manager Mikel Arteta was noncommittal when asked if Saka or defender Jurrien Timber might return to the fold, offering only that “maybe one of them” could be involved. However, when pressed on the nature of the winger’s injury and its recent persistence, the Spaniard provided a bit more clarity for the worried Emirates faithful. “It’s something that he was carrying for a while. It was an Achilles issue,” Arteta said. “It’s progression but hopefully it’s going to be a matter of days and not weeks. But he has to see when the load is more how he responds to that kind of progression,” he added. Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber of Arsenal. Arsenal navigating a fitness crisis Saka isn’t the only concern for a depleted Arsenal squad; Tuesday’s training session raised red flags regarding several other key contributors. Missing from the main group were midfield anchors Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, along with defender Riccardo Calafiori. While Rice has reportedly recovered and should be available for selection, significant questions remain over whether Odegaard and Calafiori are fit enough to start. This personnel crunch may force Arteta to lean on his depth as he looks to defend a narrow 1-0 aggregate advantage in the Champions League clash. Confirmed lineups for Arsenal and Sporting CP Arsenal’s confirmed lineup (4-2-3-1): David Raya; Cristhian Mosquera, William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapie; Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice; Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli; Viktor Gyokeres. Head coach: Mikel Arteta. Sporting CP’s confirmed lineup (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva; Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Maximiliano Araujo; Morten Hjulmand, Hidemasa Morita; Geny Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Pedro Goncalves; Luis Javier Suarez. Head coach: Rui Borges.

After being eliminated from the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, Liverpool appear to have no choice but to focus on the next season. With Hugo Ekitike reportedly suffering an Achilles tendon injury, the Reds are said to be accelerating their plans, adding a striker reinforcement. Unlike the previous season, Liverpool are having a disappointing campaign, no longer competing for the Premier League and being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League. Alongside these struggles, Hugo Ekitike had to be substituted in the previous match, reportedly suffering a season-ending injury. Because of this, the Reds have allegedly accelerated their plans, now adding a striker reinforcement in their objectives. According to L’Equipe, Hugo Ekitike has suffered a torn Achilles tendon, ruling him out of the 2026 World Cup with France. As a result, the forward could be sidelined for 7–9 months, missing the first half of next season and possibly returning in top form by the end of the 2026–27 season. For this reason, the Reds have reportedly decided to accelerate their transfer plans for the summer of 2026, with Anthony Gordon as their target. Following Mohamed Salah’s departure at the end of the season, the Reds had decided to pursue a winger, reportedly making Yan Diomande their top priority. Alongside the Ivorian, they have also targeted a striker, with Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United emerging as the main objective. However, Liverpool are also closely monitoring Jarrod Bowen, Harry Wilson, Iliman Ndiaye, and Bazoumana Touré, according to TEAMtalk. Unlike Ekitike, Anthony Gordon is not a natural centre-forward, but he mainly excels as a left winger. However, the Englishman has shown the ability to perform in this role, making his arrival a strong possibility. In addition, he could also provide depth on the flanks once the Frenchman returns. For this reason, he would be an ideal fit for the squad, although his transfer could exceed $100 million. Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United celebrates scoring a goal. Liverpool have already lost both of their starting forwards Liverpool have not had success with their marquee attacking signings. After paying €240M (around $283M) for Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, both have suffered serious injuries in their first season at the club. While the Swede suffered a severe fibula fracture, the Frenchman suffered an Achilles tendon rupture, with both missing the chance to shine on the pitch in the Reds’ initial plan. Even though Isak is back, he’ll need to get back into competitive form, as he hasn’t managed to shine under Arne Slot. With just a few games left to secure a spot in the 2026–27 Champions League, the Swede will get plenty of playing time as he looks to recapture the form that made him shine at Newcastle United. Alongside him, Rio Ngumoha will play a more prominent role on the team, as he has impressed and will be untransferable for next season, reports Football Insider. Hugo Ekitike had been the Reds’ most efficient striker. After playing 45 games, the Frenchman had emerged as the team’s top scorer, netting 17 goals. As a result, the team will face a tough challenge in replacing him, so Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah must step up to contribute to the scoring effort. With nearly nine months of recovery time, the possible arrival of Anthony Gordon would be an interesting alternative.

Liverpool fans have been hit with the worst possible news as their season continues to spiral, with star forward Hugo Ekitike confirmed to miss up to nine months after suffering a devastating injury during Tuesday night’s Champions League exit to PSG. The 23-year-old was stretchered off in tears after just 22 minutes at Anfield, having […] The post Journalist shares worst possible news for Liverpool fans as season hits rock bottom appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal are prepared to sanction the departures of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz at the end of the season. Jesus has recently returned from injury and has struggled for gametime with the London club. He needs to leave in order to play more often. It is no surprise that Arsenal are prepared to sanction his […] The post Report: Arsenal prepared to sell “amazing player” for £70m in the summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Alexander Isak must now step up as Reds dealt devastating blow

The Reds were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals, but without the injured Hugo Ekitike, writes Richard Jolly, Arne Slot faces a major call on Alexander Isak in the battle to finish inside the top five