Mikel Arteta has revealed Raheem Sterling's absence from the Arsenal matchday squad to face Crystal Palace is because of an injury. The Gunners have been plagued by key absences this season with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard all having missed action this season.
Sterling, after playing 70 minutes in the midweek Carabao Cup clash win over the Eagles, is the latest player to suffer an injury with Arteta revealing that he felt something in training on Friday. The Arsenal boss also noted the club "will have further tests to explore".
In terms of some positive injury news, Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice have been included in the squad but are on the bench for the clash at Selhurst Park. Myles Lewis-Skelly has kept his place in the starting XI with Kai Havertz dropping back into midfield to make way for Gabriel Jesus after his hat-trick on Wednesday evening.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game, Arteta said: "Dec only had one training session, that's why he's on the bench but good news that he's available.
"And Raheem, unfortunately we lost him yesterday. He felt something in training, he had to come off. And we need to explore that with more tests."
Elsewhere, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White are still out with Gabriel Magalhaes starting consecutive Premier League games after missing a few weeks with a muscular issue. Sterling missing out may not arrive as a significant blow, however his performance at Emirates Stadium earlier this week was proof of his ability.
Even with his absence, Arsenal will still be confident of securing all three points after mixed results for Nottingham Forest and Manchester City earlier in the day. The champions were beaten away at Aston Villa while Nuno Espirito Santo's side ended Brentford's unbeaten home run to go above the Gunners and into third.
As for Liverpool and Chelsea, both currently above Arsenal, they are in action on Sunday up against Tottenham and Everton, respectively. Before those two teams play though and to reclaim third spot, Arsenal must avoid a third successive Premier League victory but the challenge that awaits them is far from straight forward.
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It is going to be an interesting summer at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal look to make changes and give Mikel Arteta the squad to overhaul Manchester City and win the Premier League title.
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