Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has cast significant doubt over the availability of key midfielder Declan Rice for this weekend's Premier League fixture against Bournemouth. The England international missed Tuesday night's emphatic 4-1 victory over Aston Villa due to a knee injury.
Rice Fitness Race Against Time
Rice sustained the problem during last Saturday's 2-1 win over Brighton, although he managed to complete the match. His absence was felt in the squad for the visit of Villa, and his participation at the Vitality Stadium now hangs in the balance. When asked if Rice could feature against Bournemouth, Arteta provided a cautious update.
"It depends, that swelling has to come right down for him to have the chance to function," Arteta stated. "He wasn't able to do that today, he's improving. But let's see what happens in the next couple of days." This leaves Arsenal fans and fantasy football managers anxiously awaiting a final decision ahead of Saturday's 12:30pm deadline.
Gunners Click Into Gear to Extend Lead
Despite Rice's absence, Arsenal produced a powerful second-half performance to dismantle a high-flying Aston Villa side and solidify their position at the summit of English football. After a closely contested first half at the Emirates Stadium, the league leaders exploded into life after the break.
The deadlock was broken in fortuitous fashion when Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez fumbled a Bukayo Saka corner, allowing defender Gabriel Magalhães to bundle the ball home. Remarkably, this was Gabriel's first start since suffering a hamstring injury on November 18. The Brazilian centre-back's return proved instantly impactful.
Martin Zubimendi swiftly added a second goal just four minutes later, effectively ending the contest. Further strikes from Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus wrapped up a comprehensive 4-1 win, which simultaneously ended Villa's impressive 11-game winning run across all competitions.
Arteta Hails "Extraordinary" Performance and Gabriel's Impact
The victory sent Arsenal five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and opened a six-point gap over third-placed Villa. A delighted Arteta praised his team's clinical edge after the match.
"I'm so happy. We struggled in the first 10 minutes... Then we adjusted, got a bit more control," Arteta explained. "The goal was fulfilled in an extraordinary way, so efficient in everything that we did. Unlike the last few games where we had so many big situations, today we were very prolific and accurate to make the difference."
He reserved special praise for Gabriel, who made a triumphant early return from injury. "Big Gabi, he comes from an injury of six weeks, that probably should have been a bit longer," Arteta said. "He plays against probably the team that is the hardest to control... He impacts the game in an incredible way, both defending and in the opposition box."
The match concluded with a minor talking point as Villa boss Unai Emery did not share a post-match handshake with Arteta. Emery clarified the situation, stating he waited but Arteta was with his coaches, and there was no issue, joking "Maybe it was because it was cold?" All focus for Arsenal now shifts to managing Rice's fitness and maintaining their commanding lead at the Vitality Stadium.
