Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a concerning update on the fitness of key midfielder Declan Rice and defender Cristhian Mosquera, after both players were forced off during Wednesday night's Premier League victory over Brentford.
Double Injury Concern Mars Vital Victory
The Gunners secured a crucial three points at the Emirates Stadium, a result that extends their lead at the top of the table to five points. However, the win was overshadowed by two fresh injury setbacks. Young centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, who started in place of the injured William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, was the first to go down. He sustained a knock in the first half after an awkward landing.
Worse was to follow late in the game, as Declan Rice was substituted with just seven minutes of normal time remaining. The England international appeared to be suffering from tightness in his calf, raising immediate alarm for the club's title charge.
Arteta Refuses Villa Assurances
Speaking in his post-match press conference, a cautious Mikel Arteta refused to guarantee either player would be available for Saturday's tough away fixture against Aston Villa. "Yes, obviously it's never good news. Declan had to come off. We don't know," the Spaniard stated. "We have to see tomorrow what he's got. And Mosquera is the other one that is out. Obviously we have big Gabi and Willy out as well. So we have to adapt."
Arteta emphasised that managing absentees has been a recurring theme this season, but praised the squad's depth and the readiness of returning players like Ben White, who played 96 minutes after his own spell out.
Specifics on Rice and Mosquera Issues
Providing more detail on his star midfielder, Arteta confirmed: "He could not carry on playing, so we have to wait and see tomorrow what happens. He can walk but he cannot play." This suggests a potential muscular issue that requires immediate assessment.
On Mosquera's problem, the manager was less specific, indicating the medical team is still determining the exact nature of the injury. "Yeah, 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," Arteta explained.
Defensive Crisis Deepens Ahead of Villa Clash
The fresh injuries compound an existing defensive crisis for Arsenal. With first-choice pairing Saliba and Gabriel already sidelined, Mosquera's potential absence leaves Arteta with severely limited options at centre-back for the trip to Villa Park. The situation places immense pressure on the squad's adaptability as they seek to maintain their five-point lead at the Premier League summit.
All eyes will now be on the club's London Colney training ground for further updates on Rice and Mosquera's conditions ahead of a critical weekend in the title race.
