Arsenal's final training session before their crucial Champions League clash with Sporting CP raised more questions than answers on Tuesday. The open media session, a pre-match requirement, highlighted a growing injury list that could seriously impact Mikel Arteta's plans for a pivotal week.

The usual absentees—Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, and Mikel Merino—were all missing, making their involvement on Wednesday unlikely. However, the most concerning development was the surprise absence of midfield anchor Declan Rice.

Rice's omission is particularly puzzling given his recent workload. After being withdrawn from England duty in March and missing the FA Cup tie, he returned to play full 90-minute shifts against both Sporting and Bournemouth last week. His presence in those matches suggested his earlier issues were behind him, making Tuesday's training no-show a significant setback.

With Arteta set to address the media later, all eyes will be on the manager's update. The timing could hardly be worse for the Gunners. First, they must protect a narrow 1-0 lead to advance in Europe. Then, just four days later, they face a season-defining Premier League trip to the Etihad to take on Manchester City.

Potentially heading into these two monumental fixtures without their captain (Ødegaard), star winger (Saka), and defensive linchpin (Rice) would represent a monumental challenge. The squad's depth and next-man-up mentality will be tested to its limit as Arsenal's pursuit of silverware on two fronts reaches its most critical point.