Mikel Arteta has revealed why Declan Rice is missing from Arsenal’s matchday squad for their crunch clash with Aston Villa.
The England midfielder is absent on Tuesday night as the Premier League leaders take on Unai Emery’s third-placed Villains at the Emirates Stadium.
Rice was fielded in an unnatural position against Brighton in Arsenal’s 2-1 home win on Saturday, playing at right-back in the absence of both Jurrien Timber and Ben White.
Reports earlier on Tuesday said that Rice had suffered a knock to his knee during the game against the Seagulls, but played through the pain barrier and had been hopeful of facing Villa.
However, he is not involved at all and asked about Rice’s absence before the match, Arteta told Sky Sports: “Declan got a big kick in his knee during the match [against Brighton], at the start of the match actually, and by the time he finished the match he had a massive swell up. The game [against Villa] was too early for him to be able to consider."
Asked if it was a short-term injury for Rice, the Arsenal manager added: “I think so. I hope that when the swelling comes out he can function [and] he will be fine. We miss Riccy [Calafiori] as well today.”
Though Rice and Calafiori are out, Arsenal have been bolstered against Villa by the returns of Timber and White, with Gabriel also fit enough to start for the first time following a thigh problem.
Kai Havertz also takes his place on the bench for the first time since the opening day of the season against Manchester United, having now recovered from knee surgery. Ethan Nwaneri drops out completely.
Arsenal currently top the Premier League table with 18 games played, and lead Manchester City by two points ahead of Tuesday’s game.
Pep Guardiola’s side take on Sunderland on New Year’s Day, so will know what they need to do after Arsenal face Villa.
In-form Villa themselves are third, three points off the Gunners. They could move second with a club-record 11th consecutive victory across all competitions on Tuesday, although displacing their hosts at the summit at this stage is near impossible given the huge gap in goal difference between the two sides.
