.jpeg?width=1200&auto=webp&crop=3%3A2)
Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of Declan Rice ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa, and could be without Cristhian Mosquera until late January.
Goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka re-established the Gunners’ five-point lead at the top of the Premier League in a 2-0 win over Brentford on Wednesday, but the game was partly marred by a fitness issue for influential midfielder Rice and centre-back Mosquera.
The injury concerns keep on mounting for Arsenal, after William Saliba sat out his second game in a row due to a knock sustained in training last weekend. Defensive partner Gabriel still faces “weeks” out.
Any enforced absence for Rice comes at the worst possible time for Arsenal, who have a packed fixture schedule with upcoming games against Aston Villa, Club Brugge, Wolves, Everton and Crystal Palace before Christmas.
Here is the latest Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of the weekend...
Declan Rice
The midfielder was withdrawn late on during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brentford.
Rice, who has started 13 of Arsenal’s 14 league games so far this season, was replaced by Viktor Gyokeres in the 83rd minute after he required treatment on his calf.
The England international has been an ever-present for league leaders Arsenal, and his withdrawal comes as Mikel Arteta contends with a growing injury list.
Arteta confirmed after the game that Rice “can walk, [but] cannot play.”
The Gunners boss told reporters: “Declan had to come off, we don't know. We have to see tomorrow what he's got.”
Rice later told Sky Sports upon exiting the Emirates that he was “fine” in a major boost, though Arteta will make a late call on his involvement on Saturday.
“Well, let’s see,” he said on Friday. “I think with all the questions I am going to get, the answer unfortunately is going to be the same.
“We have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability. So, after that, we will decide who travels.”
Potential return date: Saturday December 6, vs Aston Villa (A)
Cristhian Mosquera
Arsenal’s injury problems in defence have deepened after Mosquera was withdrawn during the first half against Brentford.
The Spanish centre-back landed awkwardly after contesting for a header with Kevin Schade and required treatment on the pitch before being replaced by Jurrien Timber.
Arsenal are yet to confirm how severe Mosquera’s injury is, but the BBC report that the defender faces at least six weeks out with an ankle injury.
That timeline would sideline the defender for most of January, with a possible return against Inter Milan in the Champions League on January 20.
Arteta earlier on Friday admitted that the injury was “complicated” as Mosquera prepares to undergo further testing on Friday.
“That is the one that is more complicated,” Arteta said when asked if Mosquera had a chance to face Villa. “But, again, we have another test today to see where we are with him.”
Pushed on if Mosquera’s injury could be potentially serious, the manager replied: “No. We need to know, because the feeling that we had after the game and yesterday, we need to corroborate with what happens with other testing that we do today.”
Potential return date: Unknown pending further assessment
William Saliba
Arsenal fans were stunned to see Saliba not involved when the team sheet dropped at Chelsea, with Arsenal writing on social media: “William Saliba misses out after a knock in training.”
Arteta did not specify exactly what the issue was as he addressed the media before and after the game, but revealed that the centre-back would undergo further examination by medical staff on Monday to determine its extent.
“I think he has another test tomorrow to see the extent of that feeling, that sensation that he had, then we'll know more,” Arteta said.
Providing a further update on Tuesday ahead of the Brentford game, Arteta said Saliba had a small issue but did not rule out the prospect of him playing on Wednesday ahead of a final pre-match training session.
“He had a little niggle, so I think it’s going to be a matter of days, so let’s see if he’s able to be there tomorrow,” Arteta said.
“The ankle one [earlier in the season] was really random, and a very unlucky action that kept him out for a few weeks. He tried at Anfield, he wasn’t comfortable and he had to stay away.
“This one as well, very bizarre, but hopefully it will be a matter of days.”
Saliba was not involved against Brentford in the end so will hope to push to be back at Villa Park, with Arteta saying on Friday: “It is a matter of days, for sure. After the training session, we will know more.”
Potential return date: Saturday December 6, vs Aston Villa (A)
Gabriel
Saliba’s surprise absence against Chelsea came with Arsenal already missing regular defensive partner Gabriel due to an adductor injury suffered while playing for Brazil in a friendly against Senegal at the Emirates last month.
The 27-year-old was expected to miss a period of “weeks” as a result of the problem, having been scheduled to undergo a further scan to allow for a clearer time frame for his recovery to emerge.
Arteta confirmed after the draw at Chelsea that Gabriel would still be sidelined for a while yet.
“With Gabi, there are still some weeks to go,” he said.
Speaking on Gabriel again on Tuesday, Arteta said: “Big Gabi is doing very well as well, but that’s weeks as well.”
Potential return date: December/January
Leandro Trossard
Before Rice, Mosquera and Saliba, the latest key addition to Arsenal’s injury list had been Leandro Trossard, who limped off with a muscle issue during the first half of last Wednesday’s statement 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Arteta expressed hope that the Belgian winger would make a quick recovery and be available to face Chelsea, though he ended up missing out on the squad.
Like Saliba, the Arsenal boss said on Tuesday that Trossard’s return was also a “matter of days”, a claim he repeated on Friday, so he could make his comeback against Aston Villa having not been involved in the win over Brentford.
Potential return date: Saturday December 6, vs Aston Villa (A)
Kai Havertz
The only long-term absentee now yet to return for Arsenal is Kai Havertz, who has not played since undergoing surgery on a knee injury sustained against Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season.
After he missed out against Bayern Munich, Arteta was hopeful that Havertz - along with fellow forward Gyokeres - could make his comeback in some capacity against former club Chelsea.
However, he was not involved again and Arteta has now confirmed that Havertz remains weeks away from playing after a setback first confirmed by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann last month.
“A matter of weeks,” Arteta said on Tuesday. “Let’s see how he evolves in the next few weeks. He is doing really well, he is doing stuff on the pitch, but I think he needs some time.
“He was doing everything. He could not go to the next level and now it is looking like we have unlocked that. We are all desperate to have him.
“I mean it is a player that, personally, I love so much for what he brings to the team - his character, his personality. I see him suffer, being outside.
“His playing record is phenomenal, he has always been available and I cannot wait to have him back around the team, playing, because I think it is going to be a massive boost.”
Potential return date: December/January
