Is Declan Rice Still Injured? Mikel Arteta Admits Arsenal Are Sweating on Midfielder’s Fitness After Knee Scare

Is Declan Rice Still Injured as Mikel Arteta Reveals Arsenal Concerns After “My Knee Is F*cked” Moment

Declan Rice has quickly become one of the pillars of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side. Since his blockbuster move to north London, the England international has embodied control, leadership and physical authority in midfield — the kind of player managers build teams around. That is precisely why Arsenal supporters felt a jolt of anxiety when Rice was ruled out of the emphatic 4-1 victory over Aston Villa, and even more so when cameras appeared to catch him muttering that his knee was “f*cked”.

In a season where Arsenal finally look capable of sustaining a genuine Premier League title challenge, every injury carries extra weight. And when it involves a £105 million midfielder who dictates tempo, screens the defence and sets the emotional tone for the team, concern is inevitable.

Mikel Arteta has now addressed the situation, but his words will do little to completely ease nerves among the Gunners faithful.

Declan Rice Injury: Arsenal’s Midfield General Under a Cloud

Rice’s absence against Aston Villa was noticeable on the team sheet, even if it wasn’t glaring on the pitch. Arsenal tore Villa apart with a ruthless display at the Emirates, opening up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and sending a clear message to their title rivals.

Yet despite the convincing scoreline, few inside the stadium — or watching from afar — were entirely comfortable without Rice anchoring the midfield.

The 26-year-old is currently nursing a knee problem that has caused swelling and discomfort, enough for Arteta and his medical staff to decide that the Villa game came too soon. Arsenal will return to action on Saturday away at Bournemouth, and while there is still hope Rice could feature, his availability remains uncertain.

Speaking to reporters, Arteta was refreshingly honest when asked whether the swelling in Rice’s knee had subsided.

“Not yet,” he admitted. “We have another session today. Let’s see how he comes through and how that’s feeling, but that game was too early for him.”

It was a measured response, but one that confirmed Rice is very much a doubt rather than a certainty.

How the Injury Happened and Why Arsenal Took No Chances

Rice picked up the issue during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Brighton on December 27. Notably, he completed the full 90 minutes of that match, showing no obvious signs of distress at the time.

When questioned about whether Rice should have been rested sooner, Arteta defended the decision.

“No,” he said. “He managed to do that and that’s normal. Sometimes you get a hit and throughout the game you are able to sustain that because of the adrenaline and warmth. Then the body reacted more than we expected unfortunately and that’s where we are.”

It is a familiar story in elite football. Players often push through knocks during matches, only for symptoms to worsen once the adrenaline fades. In Rice’s case, the reaction afterwards appears to have been stronger than anticipated.

Arsenal, keen to avoid turning a minor issue into a longer-term problem, opted for caution — a sensible approach given the volume of football still to come.

The Moment That Set Alarm Bells Ringing

What truly escalated concern among Arsenal fans, however, was a brief but revealing exchange caught on camera after the Villa win.

Rice was seen speaking to England team-mate Morgan Rogers, and lip readers quickly picked up what appeared to be the midfielder saying: “My knee is just f*cked.”

Those words spread rapidly across social media, prompting a wave of anxiety. In isolation, such language can often be exaggerated — footballers are rarely subtle when discussing pain — but combined with his absence, it painted a worrying picture.

Arteta did not directly address the comment, but his guarded tone suggested that Rice’s situation is being monitored carefully rather than rushed.

Arsenal v Crystal Palace – Carabao Cup Quarter Final

Arsenal Coping Without Rice — For Now

If there was one positive to emerge from Rice’s absence, it was Arsenal’s ability to function impressively without him, at least in the short term.

Against Aston Villa, the Gunners’ midfield rotated intelligently, the pressing was sharp, and the attacking transitions were devastating. It was a performance that underlined Arsenal’s growing depth and tactical maturity.

Still, there is no denying that Rice brings a unique balance to the side. He allows Arsenal’s more creative players to flourish, covers ground relentlessly, and offers a calming presence when games become chaotic.

Bournemouth away is a very different test from Villa at home. The Cherries are aggressive, energetic and capable of disrupting rhythm — precisely the kind of match where Rice’s qualities are invaluable.

Arsenal’s Injury Situation Slowly Improving

Rice is not the only name currently on Arsenal’s treatment table. Arteta has confirmed that both Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori remain sidelined, though neither is considered a long-term absence.

The encouraging news for Arsenal is that the worst of their injury crisis appears to be behind them.

Back in November, the situation was far more severe. Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz were all unavailable at the same time — a stretch that tested Arsenal’s squad depth to its limits.

Reflecting on that period, Arteta offered a broader perspective.

“That is the reality of the sport we play,” he said. “But looking back in the last three seasons, we have less days of injuries than before. So it’s how you look at it. If you separate the traumatic ones and the ones that are minor injuries, we have to improve, but we are better than some of the years.”

It was a reminder that injuries are not just about bad luck, but about long-term management and improvement.

Returning Players Feel Like New Signings

There is further good news on the horizon. Kai Havertz is closing in on a return, while Gabriel Jesus has rediscovered his scoring touch since recovering from knee ligament damage.

For Arteta, these returning players are effectively new signings — reinforcements without the need to enter the transfer market.

With options increasing, the Arsenal boss appears relaxed about his squad depth, even with Rice currently a concern.

January Transfers: Will Arsenal Spend?

The question of January recruitment inevitably arises when key players are injured. Arsenal are competing on multiple fronts — Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup — and the schedule is unforgiving.

Arteta, though, is not committing to major spending.

“We are open to every option,” he said when asked about January plans. “If we can find a solution that is short, medium and long, it’s always much better because it gives you stability and you don’t have to constantly start a process with a new player. Let’s see what happens in the next few weeks.”

It is a cautious stance, suggesting Arsenal will only move if the right opportunity presents itself rather than reacting to temporary absences.

A Relentless January Ahead

Arsenal’s fixture list offers no respite. After Bournemouth, they face a packed January featuring nine matches across competitions, following an already exhausting December of eight games.

Champions League nights, domestic cup ties and league clashes against heavyweight opponents await. Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter, Manchester United, Leeds and Portsmouth all sit on the immediate horizon.

In that context, managing Declan Rice’s fitness becomes even more crucial.

So, Is Declan Rice Still Injured?

The short answer is yes — for now.

The longer answer is more nuanced. Rice is not facing a long-term layoff, but he is also not being rushed back. Arsenal are treading carefully, aware that his importance extends far beyond a single fixture.

Whether he features against Bournemouth will depend on how his knee responds in the final training sessions and medical checks. If there is any doubt, Arteta is likely to err on the side of caution.

For Arsenal fans, patience may be required. But if protecting Declan Rice now helps preserve their title challenge later, it may prove a small price to pay.