Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided clarity on the condition of midfielder Declan Rice following a knee injury that forced the England international out of Arsenal’s recent matches.
Rice, who has been a central figure in Arteta’s plans since joining the club, picked up the knock in the Premier League game against Brighton. Arteta confirmed that Rice took a significant blow to his knee early in that match, and by the end he was dealing with a pronounced swelling that made it difficult for him to perform at his usual levels. Because of this, Rice was ruled out of the subsequent top-of-the-table clash with Aston Villa.
According to Arteta, the injury appears to be short-term in nature rather than something that will keep Rice sidelined for weeks or months. Speaking in pre-match comments ahead of the Villa fixture, Arteta explained that the severity of the knee issue didn’t seem overly serious once the swelling subsides, and he expressed optimism that Rice would recover “when the swelling comes out” and be able to function again normally. The coach suggested that although Rice was unavailable for the immediate fixture, the injury should not be a long-lasting concern.
Arsenal still secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Villa without Rice, a result that extended the club’s lead at the top of the Premier League. In that match, Arteta’s side adapted well in midfield, deploying alternatives to cover for the absence of Rice.
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