Why isn’t Bukayo Saka playing in Sporting vs Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League?

England forward Bukayo Saka was left out of Arsenal’s squad for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

Saka has been sidelined since late January when he suffered an injury during the warm-up ahead of the Gunners’ Premier League match against Leeds United on January 31.

Since then, the 24-year-old has missed the EFL Cup semi-final against Chelsea and the FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton, both of which Arsenal lost. However, he did start for the Premier League leaders in the EFL Cup final against Manchester City, which was between the aforementioned two matches.

Saka was also left out of the England squad for two friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

«No (whether they have trained), they have problems. They are not ready yet. Let’s see, hopefully they will be ready for the weekend if everything goes well,» Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on the eve of the Champions League match, confirming the absence of Saka and Jurrien Timber in training.

Published on April 7, 2026