Arsenal stars set for late fitness tests ahead of Premier League clash at Brighton | OneFootball

Arsenal Injury Update Ahead of Brighton Clash

Arsenal Squad Fitness Concerns Continue

Arsenal travel to Brighton this week with their place at the summit of the Premier League still intact, though the journey to the south coast arrives with familiar concerns over injuries. Mikel Arteta’s side restored their five point advantage in the title race after a dramatic 2-1 win against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, a contest decided largely by set pieces and resilience.

Goals from William Saliba and Jurrien Timber either side of a Piero Hincapie own goal secured victory for Arsenal against ten men, though the scoreline only told part of the story. Goalkeeper David Raya produced a series of vital saves that preserved the result, while several key figures either missed the match or finished it nursing physical concerns.

With Brighton next on the fixture list, attention now turns to the fitness of several influential Arsenal players.

Declan Rice Fitness Concern

Declan Rice once again played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s midfield against Chelsea. His delivery from a corner provided the assist for Timber’s winning goal, another example of the England international’s influence in decisive moments.

However, Rice did not complete the match. He appeared to struggle after rushing across to defend a Chelsea attack before misplacing a back pass out of play. Shortly afterwards he was replaced in the 76th minute by Christian Norgaard.

Arteta admitted the substitution was precautionary but left some uncertainty about Rice’s immediate availability. He said, “Declan has to be substituted so he’s going to have to get checked and see if he’s available for Wednesday, unfortunately.”

Encouragingly for Arsenal, the early signs appear positive. Arteta later added, “I hope so. He was much better today. Hopefully he’s going to be better tomorrow.” Arsenal supporters will hope their midfield engine is ready for Brighton.

David Raya Cleared To Play

While Rice left the field early, David Raya remained central to Arsenal’s victory. The goalkeeper produced an excellent performance, denying Alejandro Garnacho, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro during a period of sustained Chelsea pressure.

Photo: IMAGO

Late in the game Raya required treatment after sitting down on the pitch, raising brief concerns about his fitness. Arteta acknowledged the goalkeeper had experienced some issues earlier in the week.

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

Any concerns appear to have faded quickly. Arteta confirmed Raya’s availability ahead of Brighton, stating simply, “David is good. Good to go.”

Martin Odegaard Return Remains Uncertain

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard continues to manage a difficult season with injuries affecting both his knee and shoulder. His absence from the squad against Chelsea came as a surprise, especially after returning briefly from the bench in the north London derby.

Arteta explained the cautious approach. “Unfortunately Martin is still not feeling totally comfortable with that knee injury, and we decided not to risk him.”

Whether the Norwegian will feature against Brighton remains unclear. Arteta said, “We have to wait and see how comfortable he is to do certain actions.”

Other Arsenal Injury Updates

Kai Havertz returned to action as a substitute against Chelsea after missing four games with a hamstring issue. His status for the Brighton match remains uncertain. Arteta said, “Kai we will have to wait and see if he’s available.”

Ben White will not travel, with Arteta confirming, “Ben is not available.”

Elsewhere, long term absentee Mikel Merino continues his recovery after foot surgery and could remain out for several months, while young midfielder Max Dowman has returned to training and may soon reappear in the matchday squad.

For Arsenal, the title race demands consistency. The challenge now lies in navigating a demanding schedule while key players fight to regain full fitness.