Mikel Arteta has issued a triple Arsenal injury update ahead of facing Crystal Palace twice in the next three days. The Gunners have been hit by numerous key absences over the past few months with the return of Gabriel Magalhaes coming alongside a fresh Declan Rice worry.
After missing the last three games in all competitions, Gabriel returned to the starting XI against Everton and played the full 90 minutes. Rice and Martin Odegaard meanwhile, were both taken off just beyond the hour mark with Arteta confirming only one of those was tactical.
“With Declan I had to take him off because he was feeling something,” Arteta admitted in his post-match press conference. “With Martin it was a tactical decision to try to change their rhythm on that side.”
Four days on from that admission, Arteta offered the latest on Rice with this update far more positive, however it was not good news on two other players. “He’s fine,” he revealed. “We will make the decision on whether he’s available or not. Alex [Zinchenko] and Riccy [Riccardo Calafiori] will still be out of the squad for tomorrow.”
Calafiori had missed the same amount of action as Gabriel but did not feature against Everton with Arteta suggesting he is on the verge of returning but that Arsenal must also be careful. “We need a cage there because he wants to go out, train and play,” Arteta said recently. “We need to calm him down because he is so willing.
“It is the way he is, the way he plays. It started with the national team with a kick, then he had the knee issue. After that he lost a lot of things. Because of the injuries he had to play more than we wanted. And then he got the issue in his groin.”
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White are also still absent with it far more likely the two full-backs return to action in 2025. With decisions on Calafiori and Zinchenko clearly already made, Arteta is facing a Rice dilemma.
The midfielder is key to Arsenal and would, if a slight doubt, normally be saved for Premier League action as opposed to the cup competitions. However, with a spot in the final four up for grabs, Arteta could be tempted to bring Rice immediately back into the starting XI as opposed to saving him for the weekend’s clash with Palace.
