As Arsenal gears up for a crucial Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, head coach Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the team’s injury situation, with midfielder Declan Rice remaining a doubt for the match.
Mikel Arteta Confirms Arsenal Latest Ahead of Blockbuster Chelsea Clash
Rice, who has been a key player for Arsenal this season, missed the Gunners’ recent 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan due to a broken toe. Despite playing the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s previous match against Newcastle, Rice was unable to put his boot on after the game.
The England international has been named in the squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland, but his availability for Sunday’s match is still uncertain.
Arteta, speaking on Friday, expressed his concerns about Rice’s fitness: “I have to be very vague on that one because there is no clarity if he is going to be fit or not for the weekend. He hasn’t trained yet and it is not clear yet whether he is going to be available.”
In addition to Rice’s injury, Kai Havertz was forced off the field in the final moments of Arsenal’s loss to Inter Milan after a clash of heads with defender Yann Bisseck. Havertz required stitches for a nasty cut and has also been named in the Germany squad for their Nations League games later this month.
On a positive note, Arsenal has been boosted by the return of captain Martin Odegaard, who made his comeback against Inter Milan after being sidelined since August with an ankle injury sustained while playing for Norway.
Arteta was pleased with Odegaard’s performance: “It was great to have him back. He felt good and it’s a big step that he’s travelled with us and is part of the team.”
As Arsenal heads to Stamford Bridge in dire need of a win, Arteta remains optimistic about his team’s chances: “If we play the way we played against Inter, we have a big chance to win against Chelsea. That’s the way we have to go.”
With the match promising to be a closely contested battle, all eyes will be on whether Rice can recover in time and how Havertz responds to his injury. Arsenal fans will be hoping for a strong performance from their team to boost their Premier League standings
Read More: UEFA Club Ranking: Inter Milan and Manchester City Neck and Neck
