Arsenal ailing ahead of Porto CL 2nd leg

Mikel Arteta has been dealt a blow in the build up to Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Porto after Gabriel Martinelli was absent from training at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.

The Brazilian came off injured during last Monday’s 6-0 win over Sheffield United with what Arteta confirmed was a cut to his foot, which caused him to miss Saturday’s 2-1 win over Brentford.

After the match, the 22-year-old came through the mixed zone on crutches, although the injury is not thought to be more serious than a cut to the foot. Martinelli is now likely to miss Tuesday night’s second leg against Porto at Emirates Stadium as a result.

The Gunners will be able to welcome back Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko after the trio were all absent for the 1-0 defeat in the first leg at Estadio do Dragao. All three were involved in Monday’s training session.

Barcelona’s Champions League last-16 second leg tie at home to Napoli will be its most important game of the season, manager Xavi Hernandez said on Monday.

The first leg was 1-1 and Barca on Tuesday has a chance to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2020 after failing to get past the group stage in the past two seasons.

The last time Barca won a Champions League knockout game was in a 3-1 home win over Napoli in 2020. With the club third in La Liga, eight points behind Real Madrid, Europe is now the priority.

“The most important game of the season? Yes, it is, and we’re ready, we’re excited,” Xavi told a press conference.”It’s been four years since we’ve been in the quarterfinals and that’s how we see it, we want to compete against an opponent who, although they are not going through the best moment, have the base of the [2023] Scudetto champion.” • Reuters