Mikel Arteta provided an update on the fitness of key players as his team prepares for their first match of 2026 against Bournemouth on Saturday. Declan Rice was unable to participate in the recent 4-1 victory over Aston Villa due to knee inflammation. Arteta mentioned that he has not seen Rice train since Tuesday and is waiting until Friday’s session to make a determination regarding the England midfielder’s availability.
Arteta explained, “We have another session today, let’s see how he comes today and how that’s feeling, but [the Villa game] was too early for him.” He went on to elaborate on the nature of injuries, indicating that sometimes the adrenaline of a match can mask pain temporarily, only for the body to react afterward more severely than expected.
In addition to Rice, the team will also be without defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera, as confirmed by the manager during his press conference. When asked about the impact of injuries on the team, Arteta reflected on the situation as a chance for improvement, stating, “The first thing reaction is what can we do better? The second thing is the reality of the sport that we play. But looking back in the last three seasons, we have had fewer days of injuries than before. So, it’s how you look at it.”
Despite the defensive absences, the recent win over Aston Villa saw the return of Gabriel Jesus, Viktor Gyokeres, and Kai Havertz to the matchday squad, a scenario that brings a wealth of experience to the team. The manager expressed enthusiasm over potential selection dilemmas caused by having multiple skilled attackers available for the upcoming clash against Bournemouth.
“It helps the team, it helps every individual. I think that’s what we want, to have the option, with the amount of games we have on the schedule,” Arteta remarked. He added that having a fully fit squad would allow him to adapt tactics during games, giving him the flexibility to select players based on their current form and fitness levels.
As Arteta and his squad look ahead to the match on Saturday, there is hope that Rice may recover, and the return of experienced players could greatly enhance their performance as they seek to maintain momentum in this competitive season.