Declan Rice could return for Arsenal's Premier League clash with Bournemouth this evening after missing the 4-1 victory over Aston Villa with a knee issue
Declan Rice could make a swift return from injury for Bournemouth vs Arsenal
Declan Rice could make a swift return from injury for Bournemouth vs Arsenal
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Declan Rice could make his comeback from injury this evening after travelling to Bournemouth and participating in Arsenal's pre-match walk. The Gunners star sat out the 4-1 thrashing of Aston Villa earlier this week due to a knee problem sustained the previous weekend.
Manager Mikel Arteta has provided several fitness updates since then, initially suggesting Rice would miss the trip to the Vitality Stadium. His most recent assessment, delivered roughly 36 hours before the Bournemouth clash, wasn't particularly encouraging.
When questioned about whether the swelling around his knee had subsided, the Spaniard said: "Well, not yet. We have another session today. Let's see how he comes today and how that's feeling, but it was too early that game for him."
Rice was nowhere to be seen in the training photographs published on the club website on Friday evening, though that doesn't definitively confirm he wasn't present at London Colney.
Nevertheless, it appears Rice's condition has improved sufficiently for him to accompany his teammates to the south coast.
According to The Sun, Rice has been named in their travelling party and was spotted during Arsenal's morning stroll ahead of the fixture. However, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz were conspicuous by their absence.
The availability of the 26-year-old is a massive lift for Arteta, particularly with crucial matches against Liverpool and Chelsea looming. With this in mind, he might choose not to start Rice on Saturday evening.
Alternatively, he could be in the starting line-up but taken off early, given the upcoming FA Cup and Champions League fixtures later this month when he can be rested. While Rice's participation hasn't been confirmed, Arteta has made it clear that Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera will remain sidelined.
However, Arsenal's injury list is quickly shrinking, with Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz and Ben White all making their comebacks in the past week.
Before this trio returned, Gabriel Jesus was back in action after an 11-month absence due to a serious knee injury. The Brazilian international looked sharp in several appearances before scoring in his first start in nearly a year last month.
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal reacts
Viktor Gyokeres has not scored from open play since October
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When quizzed about how he and Havertz can assist the struggling Viktor Gyokeres, Arteta said: "It helps the team, it helps every individual. I think that's what we want, to have the option with the amount of games that we have on the schedule.
"So far we haven't had that option, so looking forward to have everybody on it, everybody performing, being able to change profiles, to change during the game as well, and to pick the best players in the best condition every time."
Alterations in the attacking trio are highly probable this month with nine matches scheduled, including the showdown at Bournemouth. Arsenal's fixture list also includes Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Manchester United and Leeds in the league.
A Carabao Cup semi-final first leg away to Chelsea is also looming, as well as Champions League encounters against Kairat and Inter.