Arsenal v Sporting LIVE: Team news and latest updates as Gunners bid to seal Champions League semi-final spot – UK Times

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Norgaard, Rice, Madueke, Eze, Trossard, Gyokeres

Sporting Lisbon XI: Silva, Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo, Braganca, Hjulmand, Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves, Suarez

Morten Hjulmand returns for Sporting after missing the first leg having picked up too many yellow cards, with Luis Suarez also available despite some confusion over whether he too would be suspended for a multitude of yellows. The booking he received in last week’s first leg turned out to be an administrative error.

Fotis Ionnidis and Luis Guilherme are out for the Portuguese side with injuries but manager Rui Borges can otherwise call on a full-strength side.

Mikel Merino is a definite absentee for the Gunners with a foot injury. Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori will all be assessed before the game, while Declan Rice will also need a late fitness test after missing training yesterday.

But it’s a slender lead that could easily be overturned and Sporting will look to pounce against Mikel Arteta’s men, who will be bruised after slipping up in the Premier League title race at the weekend.

The Gunners lost 2-1 to Bournemouth and although they remain six points clear of Manchester City they look far from the invincible side who dominated all competitions earlier in the season.

Sporting meanwhile are on a run of three straight league victories and although they were unable to break down David Raya in the first leg, will fancy their chances at the Emirates Stadium.

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live blog coverage of tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg match between Arsenal and Sporting.

The Gunners come into the match with a one-goal lead after a narrow win in Lisbon last week, and Mikel Arteta’s side are looking for the best possible start to a pivotal week as they hope to book a place in the semi-finals of the competition.

We’ll have all the latest build-up, team news and updates right here.