Mikel Arteta has provided a tentative update regarding Declan Rice’s condition as Arsenal gears up for their match against Bournemouth, with the midfielder’s knee swelling still present.
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As Arsenal heads south on Saturday, a victory would put them seven points ahead of Manchester City, who play on Sunday. However, Arteta indicated that Rice’s participation remains uncertain after he missed the midweek match against Aston Villa.
When questioned about whether the swelling in Rice’s knee had improved following the injury he sustained against Brighton, Arteta responded: “We have another session today, let’s see how he feels afterward, but it was too early for him to participate in that match.”
Arteta also dismissed any claims that Rice should have been substituted earlier in the Brighton game after sustaining the injury.
“No, no, no,” he stated. “He was able to finish the match. Sometimes you take a hit, but with adrenaline and being warm, you can push through. Then your body reacts afterward, sometimes more than expected, unfortunately. That’s the situation we’re in.”
Additionally, Arteta confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori will not return after missing the game against Villa, and Cristhian Mosquera is still unavailable, with a return expected in the middle of the month.
Regarding Calafiori and Mosquera, Arteta commented, “They are both out.” It’s still uncertain what Calafiori’s issue is.
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Max Dowman is also unavailable and is expected to not return until February after suffering an ankle injury during a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United designed to help players regain fitness.
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When asked about Arsenal’s response to injuries, Arteta emphasized the importance of finding areas for improvement. “First, we ask ourselves what can we do better? The reality of the sport we’re in should also be acknowledged,” he said. “However, over the past three seasons, we’ve experienced fewer injury days than before, so it’s about perspective.”
As Arsenal approaches the Bournemouth match, they are aware of their recent encounters. Bournemouth managed to achieve a league double over Arsenal last season, including a 2-0 victory in this very fixture. However, Arsenal has been more defensively solid this time around and has scored in 15 of their 16 Premier League matches against Bournemouth.
Reflecting on last season’s games, Arteta noted, “Those were two very different matches.
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“Clearly, the game was shifted when Saliba was unexpectedly sent off around the 30th minute. Up until that point, we had managed to control the game, creating chances. However, it ended poorly for us against a dominant home display,” he added.
“There is much to learn from that experience. I hold great respect for Andoni and the work he’s doing, and I’ve seen how cleverly his team has performed against top sides this season, despite not always getting the results.”
Furthermore, Bournemouth is currently on a ten-match winless streak in the league, their longest ever without a victory in top-flight football, and have lost 12 of their 13 Premier League games against teams that were at the top of the table on matchday.
In contrast, Arsenal has lost their first league match in just one of the last decade of opening calendar years, and Arteta’s squad aims to maintain that streak, albeit with uncertainty surrounding Rice’s status.
However, the referee assigned to the match may play a crucial role.