Mikel Arteta faces a late decision on the fitness of key midfielder Declan Rice ahead of Arsenal's Premier League encounter with Bournemouth this evening. The England international missed the Gunners' victory over Aston Villa with a swollen knee and his participation hinges on a final assessment.
Arsenal's Injury Concerns Mount
Declan Rice's availability remains the major talking point for the North London side. Arteta confirmed the situation is touch-and-go, stating yesterday, "Let's see how he comes and how that's feeling. The Aston Villa game was too early for him." This leaves a significant gap in Arsenal's midfield that will need to be filled if Rice fails his fitness test.
In further defensive blows, summer signing Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori have been definitively ruled out of the match. Youngster Max Dowman, who celebrated his 16th birthday on New Year's Eve, is also unavailable due to injury.
Bournemouth Receive Semenyo Boost
In contrasting news for the Cherries, winger Antoine Semenyo is expected to feature despite intense speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City. The player appeared to bid an emotional farewell to fans after Bournemouth's midweek draw with Chelsea, sparking rumours of an imminent departure.
However, manager Andoni Iraola moved to quash those doubts, confirming, "Yes, Antoine is going to play in this match." He added, "I think the idea at least is that he's going to be available for these two games that we have in a very short turnaround," referencing the upcoming fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
Further Absences for Both Sides
Bournemouth's squad is not without its own injury problems. The following players have been ruled out for the visit to the Emirates Stadium:
- Ben Gannon-Doak
- Ryan Christie
- Tyler Adams
- Veljko Milosavljevic
Additionally, midfielder Lewis Cook is a doubt after missing the Chelsea game with a neck issue. Iraola explained, "With Lewis, we are still waiting. It's his neck and the pain that he feels. He will try to train today and we will see. Hopefully he will be available for tomorrow."
The late fitness tests for both Rice and Cook will be crucial in shaping the tactical battle. Arsenal will be desperate to have their midfield linchpin back to maintain their title challenge, while Bournemouth will rely on Semenyo's attacking threat to cause an upset on the road.
