Mikel Arteta confirmed Arsenal will be without Declan Rice when the Gunners face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday. Just when Arsenal's injury crisis was slowly ending, Rice became the next player relegated to the sidelines. Despite playing all 90 minutes of the Gunners' 1–0 defeat to Newcastle United at the weekend, the midfielder is now unfit to travel and feature in Wednesday's Champions League clash.
In his pre-match press conference, Arteta revealed the England international is dealing with an injury to his foot. "Declan picked up an injury against Newcastle," the Arsenal boss said. "He was able to finish [the match] and he wasn’t feeling good the last few days. We’ll have to assess him on Thursday and see if he’s ready for Chelsea.”
Although the injury does not sound serious, losing Rice for any period of time is a blow to Arsenal. Even though his production in the early stages of the 2024–25 season has been underwhelming, he still is one of the team's best playmakers. The Gunners will especially miss his set piece deliveries against a disciplined Inter backline.
Looking ahead, Rice could also miss a trip to Stamford Bridge on Nov. 10, leaving Arteta's midfield shorthanded once again. Collecting all three points against Chelsea is vital to Arsenal's Premier League title hopes after falling to fifth in the standings.
Odegaard's Return Provides a Silver Lining
The good news for Arsenal is that Martin Ødegaard returned to full training and traveled with the squad to Milan. The midfielder suffered a serious ankle injury while representing Norway on Sept. 9 and has been absent ever since. Without their captain, the Gunners dropped points to Atalanta in the Champions League and Manchester City, Bournemouth, Liverpool and Newcastle United in the Premier League.
The injury boost is only a silver lining, though, without Rice in the team. The Gunners are hoping to see Odegaard back in action soon, potentially for the Chelsea match, but his return will not completely solve Arsenal's midfield woes, as they will be without Rice for at least the Inter Milan game.
Impact of Rice and Odegaard on Arsenal
The absence of Declan Rice and the imminent return of Martin Ødegaard underscores their importance to Arsenal’s performances. Since the beginning of 2023/24, Odegaard has been a key player for Arsenal, ranking first in the team for both Expected Assists (xA) and chances created.
Since his Premier League debut in January 2021, Arsenal have scored 25 per cent fewer goals without Odegaard, and their win percentage drops from 66.4 per cent to 48.0 per cent.
The Gunners are likely to miss Rice’s ability to break up attacks and control the midfield. Rice’s absence will force Arteta to shuffle his midfield, potentially leading to changes in the team’s formation and tactics. It remains to be seen how Arsenal will cope without Rice, but his absence is sure to be felt.
Arsenal's Upcoming Fixtures
With a crucial match against Chelsea on the horizon, Arsenal need to find a way to navigate these injuries and regain their form. Arteta is facing a difficult challenge, but he has shown in the past that he can find ways to get the best out of his squad.
The Gunners have a busy schedule ahead, with matches against Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur all coming up in the next few weeks. The upcoming matches will be a test of Arsenal's resilience and their ability to adapt to the absence of key players.
Looking Ahead: Can Arsenal Bounce Back?
While injuries are never ideal, they can also provide an opportunity for other players to step up. The return of Ødegaard is a major boost, and hopefully, Rice will be back soon. In the meantime, Arsenal need to find a way to cope with the absence of these key players and keep their season on track.
The Gunners are still in a good position in the Premier League and have a strong squad. However, the team needs to find a way to improve their performance on the pitch if they want to achieve their goals this season. The return of key players and the continued development of the young players will be crucial for Arsenal’s success.
