SETTABLOID

Arsenal are still dealing with multiple injury worries ahead of the Premier League clash against Chelsea. Club captain Martin Odegaard has only just returned from a six-week lay-off and yet Mikel Arteta could still be without three of his most influential players.

Declan Rice was left out of the squad that travelled to Italy for a Champions League clash against Inter Milan after picking up an injury the previous weekend. Arteta was then handed two fresh injury worries as both Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz left the European clash with head injuries.

On Friday, Arteta was asked for an update on the trio, with it appearing unlikely that Rice will be available for the clash at Stamford Bridge. “I have to be very vague on that one because there’s no clarity if he [Rice] is going to be fit on the weekend. He hasn’t trained yet and it’s not clear if he’ll be able to play.”

The attacking midfielder made his first appearance for Arsenal in over two months against Inter as he replaced Havertz for the final five minutes. Asked specifically if he could start the London derby, Arteta said: “Everybody in the squad will be fit and available to start the game; then it will be a decision on whether to start the game.”

As for other absentees, Raheem Sterling is ineligible to face his parent club, having departed west London on a temporary basis. Riccardo Calafiori, meanwhile, is still recovering from a knee injury picked up in the Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Mikel Arteta has cast doubt on the involvement of Declan Rice when Arsenal take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and is also unsure whether Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz or Mikel Merino will be fit to play.

The Gunners are enduring an uncharacteristically sticky patch of form, recently losing to Bournemouth and Newcastle in the Premier League before slipping to a 1-0 defeat to Inter in the Champions League.

Liverpool also left a recent visit to the Emirates Stadium with a well-deserved point, though Arsenal’s drop off in form has coincided with a troubling number of injuries to key players.

Bukayo Saka has spent time on the sidelines, alongside Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has played just six minutes of Premier League football in 2024/25.

Captain Odegaard has missed two months of action because of an ankle injury, returning as a substitute against Inter on Wednesday, while Rice missed that game due to a toe problem. As for Havertz and Merino, they were withdrawn at San Siro because of a blow to the head and illness respectively.

Martin Odegaard could be transformative for Arsenal once he returns to Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup, according to Ray Parlour.

Odegaard came off the bench for Arsenal during the 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan on Wednesday as he nears full fitness. The attacking midfielder had been out of action since spraining his ankle while on international duty with Norway in September.

While the Arsenal captain could not help his side pick up a result against Inter, as he came on in the final stages of the game, he will be aiming to get the Gunners’ form back on track this weekend.

After losing to both Newcastle United in the Premier League and Inter in the Champions League, Arsenal travel to London rivals Chelsea for a huge Prem clash on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta delivered some sobering news regarding his Arsenal team ahead of the clash with Chelsea on Sunday. Arsenal suffered a couple of rare issues to their side over the last week.

Both Declan Rice and Kai Havertz have been effective mainstays in the side and rarely had any injury problems. Rice has reportedly got a broken toe while Havertz suffered a cut to the head at the end of the game with Inter Milan.

On Havertz and Mikel Merino who also came off at half-time following a collision with Yann Sommer, Arteta explained: “We will have to wait to see how they react,” he said. “Kai had a nasty cut so we had to take him off. With Mikel he wasn’t feeling great the day before so we had to sub him at half-time.”

With so many potential absentees, and the reality that Martin Odegaard may not be ready to start, the Arsenal line-up could be missing some massive stars.

The back five is thankfully okay for the game, despite missing Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber can play as the defensive four in front of David Raya.

Arsenal are in talks to offer young star Ethan Nwaneri a bumper new deal as reward for his progress at the club.

Nwaneri has firmly established himself as a regular in Mikel Arteta’s first-team plans this season and the club are keen to recognise his importance to the team with fresh terms.

The attacking midfielder has been tipped for big things at Arsenal since making his Gunners debut in 2022 at the age of 15 against Brentford to become the club’s youngest ever player.

The 17-year-old signed his first professional contract in March 2023 and the club are ready to hand a new deal with a significant pay increase to bring him in line with other first-team squad members at the Emirates.

Nwaneri has made eight appearances in all competitions so far this season chipping in with three goals in his two starts in the Carabao Cup against Bolton and Preston.

Arsenal are keen to reward their young talents with new contracts after seeing academy products Chido Obi-Martin, Reuell Walters and Amario Cozier-Duberry all leave the club last summer

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice will be given every chance to prove his fitness for Sunday’s Premier League London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The 25-year-old missed the 1-0 Champions League loss to Inter Milan in midweek with a foot injury, believed to be a broken toe, but he could play through the pain barrier to make himself available here.

Despite being handed a concern over Rice, Mikel Arteta received a massive boost in midweek with the return of Martin Odegaard from an ankle injury, even if he was only able to feature for the final few moments.

The Gunners boss must also assess Kai Havertz after his head injury in midweek, though, while Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Kieran Tierney (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Raheem Sterling (ineligible) are all unavailable.

Arteta is hopeful that a bloodied Havertz only suffered a cut rather than a concussion on Wednesday, but if the Gunners have to follow the necessary protocols, Gabriel Jesus could get a rare opportunity up top alongside Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

The return of Odegaard should spell the end of Leandro Trossard‘s unsuccessful stint in midfield, while Rice will no doubt link arms with his captain and Thomas Partey if fit enough, thereby demoting Mikel Merino to the bench.

The Gunners’ rearguard is likely to remain untouched, though, as Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba form the barrier in front of David Raya.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Arsenal suffered another defeat on Wednesday as they were beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan in the Champions League, having also lost 1-0 to Newcastle last weekend.

Mikel Arteta’s side are in a disappointing run of form at the moment and will be desperate to get back to winning ways when they travel to Chelsea this weekend. Arsenal have dropped points in a number of key games and a club legend has warned they cannot afford to lose to the Blues.

Gabriel Jesus has admitted he is frustrated with his lack of minutes at Arsenal, but remains confident he can turn things around.

Despite his side suffering defeat in Milan, Arteta insisted he was happy with Arsenal’s performance as they turn their attention to Sunday’s clash with Chelsea.

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has claimed the team need more luck in front of goal after losing 1-0 to Inter Milan – the second straight game they have failed to score in.

Hakan Calhanoglou’s first half penalty – Inter’s only shot on target – was enough to give the Italian side all three points at the San Siro and leave Arsenal rueing their failure to turn dominance into goals.

Kai Havertz arguably had Arsenal’s best chance of the game as the ball fell to him inside the six-yard box – only to see his shot deflected wide.

Arsenal were beaten in back-to-back games after their 1-0 loss at Newcastle on the weekend and Mikel Arteta will now have to rally his troops for a huge game against Chelsea on Sunday.

 

The Gunners have had a poor run of results and they have picked up just one point from their previous three league games.

The club recently suffered a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League where they were probably the better outfit.

Arsenal will travel to Stamford Bridge for Sunday’s derby against Chelsea.

The game appears a must-win for them as they are already seven points behind Liverpool, who are top of the league standings.

Ahead of the derby, Declan Rice is set to continue playing despite suffering a broken toe.

The 25-year-old sustained the setback in the 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United and he subsequently missed the visit to San Siro.

However, there is optimism that he will be fit for the west London trip to face the Blues.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is determined to play through the pain barrier despite breaking his toe during the 1-0 defeat against Newcastle last Saturday.

The 25-year-old missed the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan on Wednesday but is eager to be back in action for the trip to Chelsea this weekend. Rice has been included in the England squad for two Nations League fixtures against Greece and Republic of Ireland and there is optimism surrounding his condition.

Rice struggled to put a boot on earlier this week and could not train properly, which forced him to sit out of the Champions League game against Inter. However, players do play with broken toes and Arsenal are hoping that it will not stop their star midfielder from featuring in Sunday’s London derby.

The prognosis for a broken toe is said to be ‘four to six weeks’, but players can generally make a quicker recovery and play through the pain which Rice is determined to do. The England international has missed just one game for the Gunners since joining the club for £105million from West Ham in July 2023.