Arteta Sweating On Raya And Rice Fitness After Derby Win

Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League, but the mood at Emirates Stadium was tempered by fresh injury concerns surrounding key figures David Raya and Declan Rice.

Speaking after the London derby, manager Mikel Arteta admitted uncertainty over the condition of both players ahead of Wednesday’s fixture, casting a shadow over an otherwise crucial win in the title race.

Raya was Arsenal’s hero in the closing seconds, producing a dramatic late save to preserve the three points. However, the goalkeeper appeared uncomfortable after the final action and had been managing minor issues during the week.

“I don’t know what happened in that action,” Arteta said. “He had some niggles this week so I don’t know if it’s related to that. But overall, very happy.”

The Spanish international had delivered a performance that underlined his importance, remaining focused despite limited involvement for large spells before being called upon at a decisive moment.

“David is one of our leaders without a doubt,” Arteta added. “Sometimes he doesn’t participate at all and then in one action you have to be there — and that’s very, very difficult to do.”

More immediate concern surrounds Rice, who was substituted during the second half. Arteta confirmed the midfielder will undergo checks before a decision is made on his availability.

“Declan has to be substituted so he’s going to have to get checked and see if he’s available for Wednesday, unfortunately,” the Arsenal boss said.

With the schedule intensifying and margins tightening at the top of the table, any absence for Rice would represent a significant blow. The England international has been a central figure in Arsenal’s midfield balance this season, particularly in high-intensity fixtures such as Sunday’s derby.

Arteta acknowledged that squad management will now become increasingly important as fatigue and minor knocks accumulate.

“We’re going to have to make changes and give opportunities to everybody to be fresh,” he said. “We don’t have much time to train and to replicate those emotional scenarios in matches, so recovery and freshness become critical.”

Although pleased with the resilience shown in navigating a tense contest, including managing the final stages against 10 men, Arteta made clear that maintaining physical sharpness will be just as vital as tactical control in the coming weeks.

For now, Arsenal remain five points clear at the summit. But with Raya and Rice facing assessments and fixtures coming thick and fast, the focus quickly shifts from celebration to recovery as the title race enters a demanding stretch.

_{Source: www.arsenal.com}

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