Declan Rice was unavailable for Arsenal’s midweek clash against Inter due to a toe problem, while Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino were substituted during the match for separate issues: Havertz sustained a blow to the head, and Merino was feeling unwell.
When asked about Rice’s availability for the upcoming Chelsea match, manager Mikel Arteta was cautious, saying, “I have to be very vague on that one because there’s no clarity on whether he’s going to be fit for the weekend.” Arteta added, “He hasn’t trained yet, and it’s not clear if he’ll be available to play.”
Regarding Havertz and Merino, Arteta provided a bit more optimism for the Norwegian playmaker Martin Ødegaard’s potential involvement, saying, “Everybody that is in the squad is going to be fit and available to start the game, so then it will be a decision whether it is too early for him to start.” He also noted the need to wait and assess the condition of Havertz and Merino, particularly after Havertz suffered a significant cut, and Merino had been unwell.
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Meanwhile, Chelsea have their own injury concerns, with Cole Palmer dealing with a knee issue picked up in their match against Manchester United. However, the Blues head into the fixture in good spirits, following a dominant 8-0 win over Noah in the Conference League and a solid Premier League start that has them sitting above Arsenal in fourth place.