Arsenal face fitness concerns ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP, as key midfielder Declan Rice missed open training on Tuesday. Rice's absence is worrying for Mikel Arteta's squad, especially given the monumental Premier League fixture against Manchester City looming just days later on Sunday.

Several other players remain sidelined, compounding the team's selection headache for both the European tie and the domestic run-in. Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, and Martin Odegaard were also absent from the Tuesday session. Riccardo Calafiori was another absentee from the open group training session.

This mounting injury list arrives at a critical juncture for the Gunners, who are battling fiercely on two fronts for major honours this season. The fitness status of Rice, a defensive linchpin, will dictate much of Arsenal's tactical approach against the Portuguese side in this crucial knockout fixture.

The immediate focus remains on securing passage past Sporting CP before turning attention toward that showdown with City, which could define their Premier League campaign before further potential European fixtures arrive.