Arsenal welcome back all of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli for tonight’s Champions League clash with Sporting CP.
The trio were each named on the bench for Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday and did not come on.
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Rice has been struggling with a broken toe and missed England’s Nations League wins over Greece and the Republic of Ireland earlier this month as a result.
Havertz and Martinelli represented Germany and Brazil, respectively, over the international break, but were not called upon against Forest.
Mikel Arteta turns to them tonight though as Arsenal head to Sporting looking to bounce back from defeat to Inter Milan in their last Champions League game.
Arsenal are currently sat 12th in the revamped competition and will be desperate to finish in the top eight so they can secure a bye through to the last 16.
With Havertz, Martinelli and Rice recalled by Arteta, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Jorginho all drop to the bench.
The trio started the win over Forest, although Jorginho was hooked at half-time for Thomas Partey after picking up a booking midway through the first half. Partey starts tonight too as Mikel Merino also drops to the bench.
Arsenal’s injury concerns have eased from earlier this season, when they were without the likes of captain Martin Odegaard.
They will still be without full-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu on Tuesday, though, as they are absent due to knee injuries. Kieran Tierney, who injured his hamstring in the summer, is back and in the squad.
“Everyone who is in the squad is fully fit to start the game,” said Arteta. “We have Kieran Tierney with us after a long injury. It’s great news that he is back, he’s been training with us and he is available to participate.”
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Jorginho, Sterling, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus
Injured: Tomiyasu (knee), White (knee)
Time and date: 8pm GMT tonight on Tuesday November 26, 2024
Venue: Jose Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon
TV channel: TNT Sports
Referee: Szymon Marciniak
