“He’s the only player that can handle him” – Arteta Shares Declan Rice Injury update ahead of Chelsea Showdown
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Arteta Shares Key Arsenal Injury Updates Ahead of Chelsea Showdown
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided crucial injury updates on key players Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Mikel Merino ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated Premier League match against Chelsea. Arteta’s update reveals uncertainty around Rice’s fitness, who remains the biggest doubt for the upcoming fixture at Stamford Bridge.
The England midfielder sustained a foot injury during Arsenal’s recent loss to Newcastle, which kept him out of Arsenal’s Champions League game against Inter Milan midweek. Arteta remained cautious, saying he was unsure if Rice would be ready to return in time for Sunday’s match.
“I have to be very vague on that one because there’s no clarity if he’s going to be fit on the weekend,” Arteta stated. “He hasn’t trained yet, and it’s uncertain if he’ll be able to play.”
Concerns Around Havertz and Merino
Kai Havertz is also facing a race against time to be available for the clash with his former club. The German international sustained a head injury in the final moments of Arsenal’s midweek fixture against Inter Milan, requiring stitches for a deep cut. Arteta confirmed that Havertz’s status remains in doubt, with the player’s response to treatment closely monitored.
Adding to Arsenal’s injury woes, Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino is also recovering from a head injury after a collision with Inter Milan’s goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, forced him off at halftime. Despite the setback, Arteta sounded optimistic about Merino’s availability. “We will have to wait to see how they react,” Arteta noted. “Kai had a nasty cut, so we took him off. With Mikel, he wasn’t feeling great, but he should be fine for Chelsea.”
Unavailable and Returning Players
Beyond these fitness concerns, Arsenal will be without Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and Riccardo Calafiori, who remain sidelined due to injuries. Raheem Sterling, on loan from Chelsea, is also ineligible to play against his parent club, further limiting Arteta’s squad options.
On a positive note, Martin Odegaard is set to rejoin the Premier League squad for the first time since August. Though Odegaard’s inclusion is a boost for Arsenal, Arteta stopped short of confirming his place in the starting lineup. “Everybody in the squad will be fit and available to start the game,” Arteta explained. “Then it will be a decision on whether to start the game.”
Preparing for Chelsea
With Chelsea’s recent strong performances and Arsenal’s need for key players, Arteta’s squad depth may play a critical role in the outcome of the match. As Arsenal prepares to face Chelsea, the question remains whether Rice, Havertz, or Merino will be match-fit in time. For Arsenal fans, all eyes will be on the final lineup announcement as they look forward to seeing if Arteta’s squad can manage another high-stakes challenge in their Premier League campaign.
