Sporting suffer injury blow with star Mikel Arteta wanted at Arsenal ruled out | Football

Sporting CP will be without one of their first-team stars when they take on Arsenal in the Champions League tonight.

The Gunners have a slender 1-0 lead after their quarter-final first leg victory in Lisbon last week with Kai Havertz’s late goal leaving them in a commanding position ahead of the return leg in the capital.

Mikel Arteta’s side are reeling from a dismal defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend with a number of injury concerns to contend with.

Sporting will also be without the services of one key man with Ivan Fresneda not making the trip to London.

The 21-year-old was forced off at half-time on Saturday as a precautionary measure.

While he was given the chance to prove his fitness this week, Sporing boss Rui Borges has opted to leave him back in Lisbon to avoid the risk of further aggravating the muscle issue.

‘Iván has been an important player, he’s had a great season,’ Borges said.

‘Due to physical management, he’s not at 100%. We opted to leave him in Lisbon; he wasn’t in full condition to contribute, and tomorrow’s game demands everyone at 100%.’

Fresneda has made 39 appearances for Sporting this season and has started all but one of their Champions matches at right-back.

The Spain Under-21 international was a transfer target for the Gunners three years ago. Arsenal explored a move for the then-18-year-old in the January transfer window that year during his breakout season with Real Valladolid in Spain.

Arsenal even agreed a £13m fee with the La Liga side, seeing off interest from Borussia Dortmund who were also in the race for his signature.

Fresneda eventually turned down Arsenal’s offer with first-team opportunities key to his decision. He Later that year, he signed for Sporting despite interest from Chelsea that summer.

Elsewhere for Sporting, Belgian defender Zeno Debast and Joao Simoes, who started the first-leg in midfield, have travelled with the squad but are doubts   

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