Arsenal XI vs Sporting: RICE IN - Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Champions League today | OneFootball

Gunners take one-goal lead back to the Emirates Stadium for quarter-final second leg

Declan Rice starts for Arsenal as they look to see off Sporting CP and reach the Champions League semi-finals.

The midfielder, though, has made a swift recovery to retain his place in the Gunners' starting lineup alongside Martin Zubimendi in the engine room.

Mikel Arteta's side are in pole position to progress through to the last-four after a 1-0 win in Lisbon last week.

The Gunners secured that victory without Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, and both miss out again along with captain Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino.

"It's something that he was carrying for a while," Arteta said of Saka. "It was an Achilles issue.

"It's progression but hopefully it's going to be a matter of days and not weeks. But he has to see when the load is more how he responds to that kind of progression."

Eberechi Eze is now fit again after a calf injury and returns to the starting lineup after a substitute appearance at the weekend.

Eze replaces Kai Havertz, who netted a late winner is Lisbon last week, as Arteta sticks with the same front three that underwhelmed in defeat to Bournemouth.

This means Viktor Gyokeres gets another opportunity to lead the line against his former club as he searches for a third goal in four games since the international break.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.