Arsenal head into Saturday evening’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth facing fresh selection concerns, with Declan Rice still a major doubt and Mikel Arteta dealing with defensive fatigue ahead of the visit to the Vitality Stadium.
The Gunners travel south for a 5:30pm GMT kick-off looking to maintain momentum after their midweek victory over Aston Villa, but injuries and workload management are shaping Arteta’s thinking as the season reaches a demanding phase.
Declan Rice injury latest ahead of Bournemouth
Rice missed Arsenal’s win over Aston Villa after suffering swelling to his knee following a knock sustained against Brighton. Speaking ahead of Friday’s training session, Arteta confirmed the issue has not fully cleared.
“Well not yet,” the Arsenal boss said. “We have another session today, let's see how he comes today and how that's feeling. It was too early [against Villa] for him.”
If Rice is ruled out once again, Mikel Merino is expected to continue in midfield. An alternative option would be handing Eberechi Eze his first Premier League minutes since mid-December, though that would represent a bolder call from Arteta.
Defensive concerns mount for Arteta
Arsenal are already without Cristhian Mosquera, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury, while Riccardo Calafiori has not featured since the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace and is also unavailable.
Gabriel and Jurrien Timber both started against Villa but were forced off late on after showing signs of fatigue. Gabriel is expected to be fit enough to start again alongside William Saliba, but Arteta may opt to protect Timber by bringing Ben White in at right-back.
The defensive situation leaves Arsenal short on flexibility, making squad management a key factor in the selection.
Forward line decisions remain open
In attack, Kai Havertz is available but not yet ready to start, leaving Arteta with another decision to make at centre-forward. Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Jesus are again competing for the role, with Jesus offering mobility and Gyökeres providing physical presence.
Leandro Trossard has been Arsenal’s most consistent attacker in recent weeks and is likely to retain his place, potentially ahead of Gabriel Martinelli, who may again be used as an impact substitute.
Predicted Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth
Arsenal are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. David Raya should start in goal, with Ben White, Gabriel, Saliba and Piero Hincapié forming the back line. Martin Zubimendi is set to anchor midfield alongside Merino and Martin Ødegaard, while Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Trossard lead the attack.
Match details
The Premier League fixture kicks off at 5:30pm GMT on Saturday 3 January 2026 at the Vitality Stadium. The match will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Key insights
- Declan Rice remains a doubt after knee swelling
- Arsenal are dealing with defensive fatigue and injuries
- Leandro Trossard is expected to keep his place in attack
- Arteta faces key midfield and right-back decisions
What’s next
Arsenal will assess Rice after Friday’s training session before making a final call on his involvement. With the schedule intensifying, Arteta must balance short-term results with protecting key players as the Gunners continue their push at the top of the table.
Should Arsenal risk Declan Rice if he is only just fit — or is caution the smarter move with bigger fixtures ahead?
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