Gunners aim to bounce back against Portuguese outfit in opening Champions League clash

Arsenal's quest to regain their momentum begins in Lisbon, where they will face Sporting in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie tonight, a crucial test of their mettle after a string of setbacks.

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Their dreams of a historic quadruple have been dashed, with defeats to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final leaving them to focus on the Premier League title and Champions League bid.

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Despite these recent disappointments, Arsenal remain firmly in the running for the Premier League trophy and are still the favourites to claim the Champions League for the first time, a feat that would be a historic milestone for the club.

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However, their current dip in form will be put to the test by a formidable Sporting side, who have suffered just one loss in their last 16 matches and convincingly defeated Bodo/Glimt in the round of 16 to reach this stage.

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The match marks a significant milestone for Viktor Gyokeres, who will be making his first return to his former club, nine months after his highly publicized move to Arsenal last summer.

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The highly anticipated clash kicks off at 8pm BST tonight, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Estadio José Alvalade in Lisbon, a venue that promises to be electric.

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Arsenal's injury woes continue to plague their campaign, with Gabriel nursing a knee knock sustained against Southampton, although he is expected to start alongside Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard.

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Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber remain sidelined, while Piero Hincapie, Eberechi Eze, and Mikel Merino, who underwent foot surgery in February, will also miss this crucial match.

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In contrast, Sporting's medical team has a relatively light workload, with Geovany Quenda, who will join Chelsea this summer, and ex-West Ham winger Luis Guilherme the only notable absentees due to injury.

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Giorgi Kochorashvili and Ricardo Mangas complete the list of players who will not feature, while midfielder Morten Hjulmand, famously sporting an Arsenal crest tattoo, is suspended for the first leg.

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With their Champions League ambitions hanging precariously in the balance, Arsenal are desperate to end their losing streak and prove they can still compete with the best teams in Europe.

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Sporting, meanwhile, will be eager to capitalize on Arsenal's recent stumbles and secure a strong advantage ahead of the return leg, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter.