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Arteta confirms key duo out for crunch UCL test against Sporting
Ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash with Sporting, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber will miss the quarter-final.
The news arrived on Monday evening during the regular pre-match press conference duties. Earlier in the day, circulating training images noted that the duo were missing from the squad.
"They're having trouble. They're not ready yet. Let's see," confirmed Arteta.
"Hopefully, they're going to be ready for the weekend if everything goes well. That's a massive boost because in recent days, we lost so many important players. And that's something that. that we need to change immediately."
The Gunners, however, will be able to call on Gabriel, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard during Tuesday's match. The manager confirmed the trio are fit and available for the trip to Portugal.
Arsenal are looking to bounce back from their shock FA Cup exit to Southampton, but keep their eyes set on the European crown. When asked about the defeats to the Saints, Arteta didn't hold back on the impact it will leave on the squad.
"Feel that pain, feel that emotion, use it to be better and to improve," he said. "We are very clear what happened. We were punished for things related to our identity. We need to defend that in the strongest possible way."
After tomorrow's clash, Arsenal face Bournemouth on the weekend before the return leg at the Emirates on 11 April and Manchester City following that.
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