Two Arsenal stars face suspension risk in UCL game, £69m midfielder absent for Sporting CP

Arsenal take on Sporting CP in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on the road tonight.

The Gunners have suffered back-to-back defeats in two Cup competitions. They lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final before a 2-1 defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final.

They have the opportunity to make amends with a strong showing at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. Ahead of the game, the Gunners have a suspension threat looming for two of their main midfielders.

Martin Zubimendi was already suspended once during the league phase of the competition after accumulating three yellow cards. The UEFA follow a 3-5-7-9 sequence for bookings, and the yellow cards won’t reset until the semi-final stage of the Champions League.

Hence, the 26-year-old is walking a tightrope. The Spaniard would be suspended for the second leg of the quarter-final at the Emirates if he is booked tonight (fifth yellow card). A yellow card in north London would see him miss the first leg of the semi-final against Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile, Christian Norgaard faces a similar situation. He is just one booking (two so far) shy of an automatic ban. The Denmark international has been a regular deputy for Zubimendi, but must guard against receiving a caution too if he comes off the bench to replace the Spaniard.

On the good side, Arsenal don’t have any suspended players for tonight’s encounter in Lisbon, but they have been handed a big boost with Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand ruled out of the game after his fifth caution of the campaign in the 5-0 rout of Bodo/Glimt at home in the last 16.

The Dane, who has a £69 million release clause in his Sporting CP contract, played a big part in the stunning turnaround. They were 3-0 behind after the first leg in Norway and made a sublime comeback to secure a Champions League date with the Gunners.

Hjulmand is a key player for the Portuguese champions. He has completed 91 percent of his passes in the Primeira Liga, winning 67 percent of his ground and aerial duels.

The 26-year-old has also won two tackles per game with six recoveries. He has likewise been sublime with his ball control and work rate from the heart of Sporting’s midfield.

His absence has no doubt left a big void for the Lisbon giants. Arsenal must capitalise and secure a handy first leg lead before the reverse fixture at the Emirates next Wednesday.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com

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