Mikel Arteta provides update on Declan Rice ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash against AFC Bournemouth

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is unsure if Declan Rice will make the squad to face AFC Bournemouth this weekend. The Spaniard revealed that they have no other injury concerns so far, as they have yet to train for the game.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Premier League game, Arteta is waiting to see how the swelling on Rice's knee has reduced. He added that Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera are out injured and said (via club website):

"We haven’t trained yet, so today’s going to be the first training session with the players who started against Villa. We will know more this afternoon. Not yet, and we have another session today, so let’s see how he [Declan Rice] comes in today and how that’s feeling, but [he Villa] game was too early for him."

When asked if the club are looking to sign players in the winter window, he added:

"We are open to every option. Obviously if we can find a solution that is short, medium and long, it’s always much better because it gives you stability and you don’t have to constantly start a process with a new player, but let’s see what happens, let’s see what the news is in the next few weeks and we’ll try to make the right decision."

Arsenal are now four points clear at the top of the Premier League table after Manchester City dropped points against Sunderland on New Year's Day.

Mikel Arteta comments on Arsenal's two losses to AFC Bournemouth

Arsenal have lost their last two Premier League matches to AFC Bournemouth, and the Gunners are looking to avoid a hat-trick of defeats to the Cherries. Mikel Arteta was asked about the defeats and said:

"They were two very different games. Obviously a game that, until the 30th minute when Saliba gets surprisingly sent off, it was a different game that we managed. We had some chances but we manage to lose the game. Our home display, at the beginning, it was very dominant and that ended up in a really poor way for us." "So, a lot to learn, huge respect for them. I know Andoni really well and what he’s doing, I think it's incredible. I'm watching all the games that they played this season and against the top sides, how difficult they made it and how they haven’t got results against them as well is difficult to understand."

Arsenal are coming into the game with four wins on the bounce and are looking to continue their run at the top of the Premier League table.

Edited by Sripad