Arsenal injury update: Declan Rice, David Raya and Martin Odegaard latest return dates | OneFootball

Gunners suffer huge scare in Chelsea win as midweek clash with Brighton awaits

Arsenal are dealing with some key new injury worries ahead of their midweek trip to Brighton in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s leaders quickly restored their five-point advantage in the title race by edging past 10-man Chelsea 2-1 in a dramatic battle of set-pieces at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, immediately answering back after rivals Manchester City - who still have a game in hand - had narrowly won away at Leeds.

However, the win may have come at a cost as Declan Rice went off injured in the second half of a game that Martin Odegaard and Ben White both missed completely, with Raya also revealed to have been struggling in the build-up to an inspired display.

The Gunners did at least get Kai Havertz back after four games out with a hamstring issue as he came off the bench against his former club.

Here’s all the latest Arsenal injury news ahead of Wednesday night’s meeting with Brighton, which is followed before the March international break by the two-legged Champions League last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen in addition to an FA Cup fifth-round trip to Mansfield and top-flight clash with Everton - plus the small matter of the Carabao Cup final showdown against Manchester City.

Declan Rice

Rice was present as usual in Arsenal’s midfield engine room against Chelsea, providing the corner delivery that was headed home by Timber for the match-winning goal with just under 25 minutes remaining.

However, it was the first time since the 2-0 home win over Brentford on December 3 - where he picked up a calf issue - that the England star did not complete a Premier League game that he started.

Rice appeared to tweak something after rushing across to snuff out the danger posed by Chelsea down the right-hand side as he then skewed a poor back pass straight out of play.

He did not seem to be moving particularly well thereafter and was replaced by Christian Norgaard in the 76th minute.

Declan Rice went off injured as Arsenal outlasted 10-man Chelsea

Getty Images

“Declan has to be substituted so he's going to have to get checked and see if he's available for Wednesday, unfortunately,” Arteta said after the game.

Arsenal fans will hope that the durable Rice can return as quickly as he did in December, when he was back straightaway after the knock suffered against Brentford.

Potential return date: Unknown pending further assessment, potentially Wednesday March 4, vs Brighton (A)

David Raya

Raya was superb against Chelsea, making a string of brilliant stops to deny the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro, plus preventing a potential own goal from Rice.

However, he sat down on the pitch and received treatment late on before continuing and finishing the game with those heroics in stoppage time.

Asked about that afterwards, Arteta said: “I don't know what happened in that action.

“He had some niggles this week so I don't know if he's related to that. But overall, very happy.”

Raya should be absolutely fine to face Brighton. If he isn’t, then deputy Kepa Arrizabalaga would deputise.

Potential return date: Wednesday March 4, vs Brighton (A)

Martin Odegaard

It was a surprise to see Arsenal’s influential captain absent from the teamsheet entirely against Chelsea after he had returned from a knee injury off the bench at Spurs, having missed the disastrous draw with Wolves and FA Cup drubbing of Wigan.

He did not even make the bench to continue an injury-plagued campaign in which he has struggled with shoulder and knee problems.

“Unfortunately Martin is still not feeling totally comfortable with that knee injury, and we decided not to risk him,” Arteta explained on Odegaard before the win over Chelsea.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has struggled with knee and shoulder injuries this season

Mike Egerton/PA Wire

It remains to be seen if Odegaard will be risked against Brighton.

Potential return date: Unknown, potentially Wednesday March 4, vs Brighton (A)

Ben White

Also absent entirely against Chelsea was White, who had missed the north London derby with an unspecified minor knock.

“Let’s see,” was the only update from Arteta on the versatile defender ahead of the weekend, with no place in the squad forthcoming.

Like Odegaard, it is unclear at this stage if he will be in contention to face former club Brighton this week.

Potential return date: Unknown, potentially Wednesday March 4, vs Brighton (A)

Mikel Merino

Merino is a long-term absentee for Arsenal after undergoing surgery last month on a rare and serious foot injury sustained in the shock home defeat by Manchester United on January 25.

The Spaniard was ruled out for an “extended period” and it remains to be seen if he will play again this season.

“Well, I think the doctors were really happy [with] the way it went,” Arteta said recently. “Yeah, now it starts. Obviously, it's a long process.

Mikel Merino underwent foot surgery in February

Instagram/Mikel Merino

“You're talking about bone healing, so you need to be patient. You respect the timings, and I'm sure Mikel is going to do everything that he possibly can to speed up the process.

“We're talking about months, whether it's three, four or five, we don't know.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Max Dowman

Arsenal’s teenage sensation has not made a senior appearance since becoming the youngest player in Champions League history by coming off the bench against Slavia Prague in early November.

Not yet a permanent fixture in the matchday squad anyway amid fierce competition for places, he suffered an ankle ligament injury while playing in an Under-21 game against Manchester United at St George’s Park in December.

He committed his future to Arsenal during his time on the sidelines and has been back training at London Colney now for a while, stepping up his return by playing the first 45 minutes for the U21s on Friday night against Ipswich in the Premier League 2 before going off at half-time in a pre-planned move.

If fit enough, and provided there are no setbacks this week, it seems possible that Dowman could be involved when Arsenal travel to face third-tier Mansfield in the FA Cup.

Potential return date: Saturday March 7, vs Mansfield (A)