'No fear, pure fire' - Arteta defiant on pivotal week

Mikel Arteta wants his side to play with "pure fire" as they prepare for one of their biggest weeks in years. Arsenal host Sporting on Wednesday, having won 1-0 in Lisbon last week, for a place in a Champions League semi-final. On Sunday they visit Manchester City, their closest challengers in the title race.

Arsenal last won a trophy in 2020 with the FA Cup and have not been league champions for 22 years. The Gunners were beaten by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final, and at home by Bournemouth in the league on Saturday. Their trophy chances have gone down from four to two, while their lead at the top of the table has been reduced to six points. Eberechi Eze said: "The boss speaks well, he is passionate, and you can see the fire he has in his eyes and mind, and that has been pushed throughout the whole club."

Declan Rice was one of five players who missed the club's open training session on Tuesday. Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori also missed the training session. Arteta said one of Saka or Timber could feature against Sporting. Arteta said: "We have to wait until tomorrow morning to see how a few of the boys are, and then make the right decision with them."