(DDM) – Arsenal are assessing their options ahead of Saturday evening’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth, with doubts surrounding the fitness of key midfielder Declan Rice.
Reports monitored from the Evening Standard indicate that Rice could miss the encounter after sustaining a knee injury during Arsenal’s match against Brighton.
The England international was absent from the midweek victory over Aston Villa, having suffered swelling that restricted his ability to train fully.
The Arsenal squad trained on Friday in preparation for the trip to the south coast, but uncertainty remains over whether Rice will be fit enough to feature.
Should Rice be ruled out, Mikel Merino is expected to step into the midfield role to maintain balance and control.
There is also the possibility that Eberechi Eze could make a rare Premier League appearance, having not featured regularly since mid-December.
Injuries continue to shape Arsenal’s selection decisions across the pitch.
Defender Cristhian Mosquera remains unavailable due to an ankle problem that has sidelined him in recent weeks.
Riccardo Calafiori has also yet to return to action since Arsenal’s Carabao Cup victory over Crystal Palace.
There was, however, some positive news at the back during the win over Aston Villa.
Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber both returned to action in that match.
The duo were substituted late on due to fatigue rather than injury concerns.
Both defenders are in contention to start again against Bournemouth.
Arteta may opt to deploy Ben White at right-back to manage Timber’s workload if required.
Gabriel is widely expected to resume his central defensive partnership with William Saliba.
In attack, selection decisions remain finely balanced.
Kai Havertz is fit and available but may not be rushed back into the starting lineup.
This leaves Arteta with a choice between Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus to lead the line.
Leandro Trossard has impressed with his recent performances and could retain his place in the attacking setup.
His form may see him selected ahead of Gabriel Martinelli, who has faced increased competition for minutes.
Arsenal head into the fixture in strong form and with confidence growing as they aim to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Arteta faces several key decisions as he balances fitness, form and squad rotation during a demanding period of the season.
A possible starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation could see David Raya in goal.
The defence may consist of Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba and Piero Hincapié.
Midfield options include Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and captain Martin Ødegaard.
The attacking trio could feature Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard.
Saturday’s match against Bournemouth presents an opportunity for Arsenal to maintain momentum despite ongoing injury challenges.