Although Mikel Arteta’s side secured a 2-0 victory over Brentford, Declan Rice was involved in an unfortunate incident. The game ended with two injuries that caused concern, among which was an injury to Rice. However, recent developments indicate that Arsenal might have escaped a severe injury. Thus, it provides some comfort to the fans and the management.
What Went Wrong vs Brentford: Declan Rice
The game against Brentford was pretty good. The Gunners took home the 3 points with a solid 2-0 win. Credits goes to goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka. But it didn’t come free of charge. Young defender Cristhian Mosquera had to be taken off midway through the game. He fell awkwardly – probably with a knee or ankle issue. Rice was also forced off with a calf issue in the 83rd minute.
Arteta after the match was not very upbeat. He said, “Declan had to come off. We have to see tomorrow”. He added that it was “never good news.”
Why It’s Actually A Boost — And Not A Disaster
Not long after the clash, Rice provided a piece of news. It was a good one from the perspective of Arsenal and its supporters. During a conversation with the press, he said he was “fine.” As per the information, he is anticipating being in good shape for the big match away at Aston Villa on Saturday.
The statement makes a lot of room for hopeful thinking. Especially when one considers that Arsenal’s squad is already quite stretched. The presence of Rice may turn out to be indispensable. As there will be a double task of providing stability in the midfield and protecting an injury-ridden defense. Along with that, key defenders like William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are out of the game.
Bigger Picture: Why Fitness Matters More Than Ever
With a 2-0 win, Arsenal extend their unbeaten streak to 18 games across all competitions. This is a streak that shows their consistency even when under pressure.
Nevertheless, manager Arteta did not conceal his irritation with the congested fixture schedule. He pointed out that the quick turnaround — the game being played on Wednesday night and then again on Saturday. This caused the risk of injuries to increase. To strengthen the argument, he said the team is already thin at the back and in attack with a number of players out of the game.
It will be a timely and welcome boost if Rice turns out to be fit for the game on Saturday. Having a fully functioning midfield anchor could go a long way in relieving pressure off young defenders like Mosquera. This will also enable Arsenal to keep their balance despite so many absences.
What’s Next — And What You Should Watch
Both Rice and Mosquera are undergoing medical tests. Declan Rice appears to be very positive. Arsenal will most probably wait until the last team news. This will confirm if he will be available for the game against Aston Villa.
Should Rice be out of the game or limited in his actions, Arsenal’s midfield might become weaker. Thus, the team will have to battle hard to keep the opponents at bay. On the other hand, the opponents might try to take advantage of the open spaces or press hard.
The club’s overall situation with injuries is still not great. Despite the victory, Arteta’s request for more time to recover appears to be more pressing than ever.
Declan Rice had to come off with what looks to be a calf injury.
When palpating, he seemed to pinpoint the soleus/peroneals. Soleus strains/tightness are they common as they are the primary calf muscle used for endurance.
Most calf issues tend to be minor, and do facilitate a… pic.twitter.com/eXyZM4SkRR
— Physio Scout | Football Injury Analysis (@physioscout) December 3, 2025
Author’s Insight
The night that could have ended in disaster with two injuries turning out to be a small relief. In football terms, it is called a “phew”. It is a big lifeline for Arsenal. Going into a tightly packed series of games where Rice says he is fine. However, it is important to note that nothing is certain until the final scans are done. The current indications are that the Gunners might have just escaped a major blow.
As featured on GoonerNews.com