Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of Arsenal's trip to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal's Strong Form and Key Returns
Arsenal is currently in excellent form, having secured four consecutive league victories, and holds a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. This strong position comes after a decisive 4-1 win against Aston Villa and Manchester City's draw. The team has also benefited from the return of key players, notably Gabriel Magalhaes, who has re-established a solid defensive partnership.
New Injury Concerns for Arsenal
Despite their successful run, Arsenal has recently been impacted by two new injuries during the festive period. Declan Rice, for the first time this season, missed a league match after sustaining a knee injury in the 2-1 victory over Brighton. Riccardo Calafiori has also been sidelined for the last two games, having aggravated a pre-existing injury during the warm-up before the Brighton fixture.
Arteta's Pre-Match Injury Updates
In his pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori would not be available for Arsenal's upcoming Premier League match against Bournemouth. Regarding Declan Rice's participation, Arteta stated that a decision had not yet been made, with his availability contingent on how he feels after the team's training session, as the match against Villa was too soon for his return.
Additional Injuries and Potential January Transfers
Beyond Rice and Calafiori, Arsenal is also without Cristhian Mosquera due to an ankle injury sustained in a previous win against Brentford, and Max Dowman is recovering from a longer-term injury. Arteta acknowledged the team's history with injuries and hinted that the club is open to exploring the transfer market during the January window to reinforce the squad for the second half of the season.
