“Premier League 2024-25: Rice and Saka Add to Arteta’s Injury Concerns After Derby Draw”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing more injury headaches after Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were both forced off during Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea, adding to what he already described as a “nightmare” injury run. Rice was substituted in the 71st minute, followed by Saka, who was replaced 10 minutes later, both players suffering knocks during the match.

Arteta expressed concern after the game, stating, “It doesn’t look good because for two players of that importance to say they want to come off is unusual. I don’t expect them to be fit for the international break because if not, they don’t come off.”

Despite the injury concerns, Arsenal took the lead through Gabriel Martinelli, but Chelsea responded when Pedro Neto was given too much space to fire in an equaliser, leaving Arsenal frustrated. The result meant Chelsea climbed to third in the Premier League, while Arsenal remained fourth, both teams now nine points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Arteta admitted his disappointment in how his team conceded the equaliser after working hard to take the lead, saying, “After scoring the first goal, I’m very disappointed with how we conceded the goal. That’s nowhere near the standards. That’s not very much like us.” He stressed that Arsenal needed to do better defensively.

In a rare positive for the Gunners, captain Martin Ødegaard made his return to the starting lineup after a lengthy ankle injury layoff. Arteta praised the Norwegian’s performance, adding, “I don’t know another player that is capable of doing that after six weeks out.”

Arsenal’s disappointing draw meant they’ve now gone four games without a win in the league, as their form continues to slip. Meanwhile, Chelsea, who have struggled in recent seasons, head into the international break in the Premier League’s top three for the first time since the 2021-22 season. Manager Enzo Maresca has impressed in his efforts to blend a large and expensive squad, and he was pleased with the performance, saying, “The performance was good. The game in some moments was open, anything can happen on both sides. We 100% deserved a point.”