Arteta Unsure on Declan Rice Fitness Ahead of Bournemouth Trip

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has cast doubt over Declan Rice’s availability for the weekend clash with Bournemouth, with the midfielder still managing a knee issue that ruled him out of the emphatic 4–1 win over Aston Villa.

The England international was absent from the matchday squad at the Emirates, yet Arsenal continued their momentum to open a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Attention now turns to whether Rice can recover in time for Saturday’s trip to the south coast.

Arteta confirmed the problem has not fully settled, explaining that the Villa fixture came too soon for the 26-year-old. A final decision will depend on how Rice responds to training and late medical checks in the coming days.

The timing matters for Arsenal. With the title race tightening and fixtures coming thick and fast, Rice remains central to Arteta’s midfield balance. His absence has been managed, but the manager is keen to have his record signing back as soon as possible.

Rice sustained the knock during the 2–1 victory over Brighton on December 27, completing the full 90 minutes before the issue worsened afterwards. Arteta indicated that the midfielder played through the problem on adrenaline, with the body reacting more than expected once the match intensity faded.

Arsenal’s recent home win over Villa was played in a confident, buoyant atmosphere, with the crowd responding to another statement performance. The midfield coped without Rice, but his leadership and defensive control were clearly missed from the sidelines.

There were no major controversies on the night, yet Rice was seen discussing his condition with England teammate Morgan Rogers after the game, fuelling concern among supporters about the severity of the issue.

In terms of personnel, Rice has joined Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori on the injury list, although Arsenal’s wider fitness picture is improving. Earlier in the season, Arteta had to manage spells without Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

The second half of the campaign is shaping up more positively. Havertz is close to returning, while Jesus has already made an impact since coming back from knee ligament damage. Arteta views these recoveries as a boost equivalent to new signings.

That context could influence Arsenal’s January approach. With options returning and the squad stabilising, Arteta has stressed flexibility rather than urgency in the transfer market, preferring solutions that offer short, medium and long-term value.

For now, the immediate focus is Rice’s knee and whether he can make the Bournemouth squad. Arsenal remain in control of their title push, but having their midfield cornerstone back on the pitch would strengthen their position as the season enters a decisive phase.