Mikel Arteta faces a crucial late fitness decision on star midfielder Declan Rice as Arsenal prepare for their Premier League encounter with Bournemouth this evening. The Gunners travel to the Vitality Stadium for a 5:30pm kick-off on Saturday 3 January, with their title ambitions firmly in mind.
Rice Race Against Time After Knee Injury
The major concern for the north London side revolves around the condition of Declan Rice. The influential midfielder was forced to miss Arsenal's midweek victory over Aston Villa, marking the first league game he has sat out all season. The issue stems from a kick to the knee sustained during the win against Brighton last weekend.
Persistent swelling ruled him out against Villa, and while the problem is believed to be short-term, his participation at Bournemouth hangs in the balance. A final decision was scheduled to be made following Arsenal's final training session on Friday. With a massive midweek clash against Liverpool looming, Arteta may err on the side of caution.
Defensive Boost and Attacking Dilemmas
There is positive news in defence, where Arteta can finally call upon his first-choice centre-back pairing. Gabriel Magalhaes returned in imperious form during the week and is expected to partner William Saliba, with Jurrien Timber also likely to keep his place. This will be the first time since November that the preferred defensive duo has been available.
However, the game comes too soon for Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, who has missed the last two matches after picking up a knock in the warm-up before the Brighton game. Cristhian Mosquera also remains unavailable.
Further up the pitch, Arteta has a significant selection headache in attack. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are both fully available again, putting pressure on current starter Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish forward has struggled for form, and after Havertz's effective performance off the bench against Villa, a change is widely anticipated. Some argue Gyokeres could now be considered fourth choice, especially with Mikel Merino also proving effective in advanced roles this season.
Predicted Lineup and Broadcast Details
Arsenal's starting eleven will heavily depend on Rice's fitness. Given how comfortably they dispatched Villa without him, Arteta might be tempted to grant his key midfielder extra recovery time. In attack, the merit of Jesus's midweek contribution could see him rewarded with a start ahead of Havertz, though the German often holds Arteta's long-term faith.
The match kicks off at 5:30pm on Saturday 3 January and will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Subscribers can also stream the action via the Sky Go app or NOW TV.
Overall, Arsenal's injury situation has improved markedly in recent weeks, with young midfielder Max Dowman now the only other confirmed absentee. The decisions made by Arteta today will be a clear indicator of his priorities, balancing the immediate need for points at Bournemouth with the upcoming pivotal fixture against Liverpool.
