Arsenal were handed a lift in open training before the Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP, with Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard all involved.
Arsenal received a welcome injury boost ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP after Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were all spotted in training during the club’s open session before the trip to Lisbon.
With Mikel Arteta’s side heading into one of the biggest games of their season, the sight of all three players back on the grass offered a timely lift. Arsenal have been dealing with a number of fitness concerns in recent weeks, so any sign of key senior players moving closer to availability is significant at this stage of the campaign.
Gabriel’s return to training is the most notable development of the three. The centre-back was forced off during Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Southampton, immediately raising concern given the way he left the pitch and the fact he was later seen icing his knee on the bench. Arteta had admitted after the match that the situation was not immediately clear, saying it was “not good news” when a player asked to come off. That made Gabriel’s presence in open training particularly important, even if it does not yet amount to confirmation that he will start against Sporting.
Rice’s return is another major positive for Arsenal. The midfielder missed the Southampton match and his availability had become one of the bigger questions ahead of the quarter-final. His involvement in training now gives Arteta the possibility of bringing back one of his most important players in the middle of the pitch, both for control and for the physical side of the contest away from home.
Trossard’s appearance in training also strengthens Arsenal’s attacking options. With Arteta managing workloads and injuries in the forward line, having the Belgium international back involved gives Arsenal greater flexibility ahead of the first leg. His experience and ability to play across the front line could be useful in a tie where Arsenal may need both patience and sharpness in the final third.
For now, training ground involvement should still be treated as a positive step rather than a guarantee of selection. Rumours suggest that Eberechi Eze will train, although is yet to be seen within the session.
But with Gabriel, Rice and Trossard all back in training, Arsenal at least have some encouragement before facing Sporting. At a point in the season when availability can shape entire ties, that represents a badly needed boost for Arteta and his staff.