Concerns: Mikel Arteta could be without several key Arsenal players for their clash with Aston Villa
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal have been non-committal on Declan Rice’s status for their Premier League trip to Aston Villa today.
The England midfielder was forced off late on during the 2-0 win over Brentford on Wednesday night with a calf problem.
Rice said after the game that he was “fine”, though Mikel Arteta will make a late call on his involvement this weekend.
“Well, let’s see,” the Arsenal boss 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.”
Arsenal will definitely be without both Gabriel (thigh) and Kai Havertz (knee) for their trip to Villa Park, and have a number of other injury doubts.
Cristhian Mosquera is nursing an ankle problem and needs to undergo further tests after limping off in the first half against Brentford.
“That is the one that is more complicated,” said Arteta, when asked about Mosquera on Friday. “But, again, we have another test today to see where we are with him.”
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Quizzed on if Mosquera’s injury could be serious, Arteta responded: “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.”
Subsequent reports have emerged claiming there are fears that Mosquera could be missing for up to six weeks.
Arsenal were also without Leandro Trossard and William Saliba against Brentford due to injury.
Saliba has missed the last two games after picking up a knock in training ahead of the draw at Chelsea last weekend. Trossard suffered a calf issue during the Champions League victory against Bayern Munich and has not played since.
Arteta has hinted they could both be fit to face Villa, though.
“It is a matter of days with those two, for sure,” he said. “After the training session, we will know more.”
Arteta also said that Martin Odegaard is ready to start two games in a week. The Arsenal captain has been hit by injuries season, struggling with shoulder issues and a knee problem.
However, he started his first game in two months on Wednesday night and managed the full 90 minutes. Arteta has hinted that Odegaard could keep his place when Arsenal travel to Villa.
“I think he’s certainly capable of doing that once the injury is resolved,” said Arteta, when asked if Odegaard could play twice in a week.
“I mean, you see his stats, what he did in midweek after six, seven weeks out. It’s incredible.
“So we just have another player, another top player that gives us a lot, gives us something different to what we have in those positions. So I’m very happy to have him. “
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Doubts: Mosquera (ankle), Rice (calf), Saliba (knock) and Trossard (calf)
Injured: Gabriel (thigh) and Havertz (knee)
Time and date: 12.30pm GMT on Saturday December 6, 2025
Venue: Villa Park
How to watch: TNT Sports