Arsenal have received a significant fitness boost with the news that midfielder Declan Rice is expected to be available for this weekend's pivotal Premier League trip to face Aston Villa.
Internal Confidence Over Rice Scare
The England international was forced off during the latter stages of Wednesday night's 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium, pointing to his calf as he received treatment. However, internal confidence within the club suggests the issue is one of fatigue rather than a significant muscular injury.
Rice, 26, who was a standout performer in the match, was able to walk around the pitch to applaud supporters after the final whistle. He also told Sky Sports he was "fine" as he departed the ground. Manager Mikel Arteta offered a cautious update, stating, "He can walk but he cannot play." The powerhouse midfielder will be assessed ahead of Friday's training session, but the current expectation is that he will be fit for the Saturday fixture at Villa Park.
Defensive Concerns for Arteta
While the news on Rice is positive, Arsenal face an anxious wait over defender Cristhian Mosquera. The Spain Under-21 international appeared to jar his leg in the turf after an aerial challenge with Brentford's Kevin Schade. He felt initial pain in his ankle and later showed discomfort around his knee.
Arteta admitted after the game that the extent of Mosquera's issue was unclear, saying, "We have to wait and see. It's probably part of the knee or ankle, we don't know. He could not really tell us exactly how it was but he wasn't able to continue."
There is more hopeful news regarding William Saliba. The French centre-back, who missed the Brentford game with a knock sustained in training before the Chelsea draw, was watching from behind the dugout. He is set for a fitness test before the squad travels to the Midlands on Friday, with hopes he can return to ease Arteta's defensive options.
Race Against Time for Trossard
Further adding to the manager's selection headaches, forward Leandro Trossard is also in a race against time to be fit for the Villa Park encounter. The Belgian sustained a calf injury during the recent 3-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich.
Defender Piero Hincapie, who suffered a nasty clash of heads with Bees striker Igor Thiago, was able to complete the full 90 minutes against Brentford and is expected to be available.
Arsenal's victory restored their five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League, making Saturday's clash with Unai Emery's high-flying Villa a crucial test in the title race. The potential availability of key figures like Rice and Saliba would provide a major lift for Arteta's squad.
