Arsenal will travel to the Jose Alvalade Stadium today for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon.

However, Mikel Arteta's team will have to play without two key players: Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber.

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Saka and Timber are absent due to injury - Photo: Alamy

The two players failed to recover from their injuries in time, forcing the Spanish manager to completely change his tactical plans.

Saka was dropped from the England squad by manager Thomas Tuchel for the most recent international break. Therefore, he missed the friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan.

Timber also performed excellently in Arsenal's defense this season but was forced to withdraw from Ronald Koeman's Netherlands national team.

The versatile defender has not played since sustaining an injury in the 2-0 victory against Everton on March 14th.

Arteta is now likely to give Madueke a chance to replace Saka, and Ben White to replace Timber on the right wing.

Despite the personnel crisis, Arteta received a great boost as the trio of Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Magalhaes were all ready to play.

The North London club needs a good result in European competition to erase the haunting memories of recent defeats in the English League Cup and FA Cup.