Mikel Arteta kept the door ajar on Declan Rice but removed any doubt about two fellow defenders ahead of a congested run of fixtures. The manager acknowledged a significant swelling in Rice’s knee after the match against Brighton & Hove Albion and said the midfielder missed the midweek session while his joint settled.

Speaking the day before Arsenal’s trip to Bournemouth, Arteta said: “We haven’t trained yet. Today will be the first training session probably with the players who started against Villa. We will know more this afternoon.” On Rice specifically he added: “We don’t know yet,” and then: “We have another session today, let’s see how he comes through it and how that’s feeling. The Villa game was too early for him.”

Rice’s presence in training represents a positive sign, but Arteta confirmed that Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori “are both out.” The manager must balance limited rotation with a defence that saw Ben White return against Villa while William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães resumed as a central pairing.

The schedule ahead is demanding. After Bournemouth, Arsenal host Liverpool in the Premier League next Thursday, then face the FA Cup third round three days later. The club also prepare for a Carabao Cup semifinal tie with Chelsea later this month while the Champions League group stage race approaches its conclusion. Arteta made clear that having Rice available for those matches would be important to the team.

Rice’s own reaction after the Brighton game added to concerns: during a postmatch conversation with Morgan Rogers the 26-year-old was seen gesturing about the swelling and shook his head while saying the word “terrible.” For now, Arteta confirmed that Friday’s training will be decisive for Rice’s involvement at Bournemouth.

Arteta also warned about the difficulty of the trip south, noting recent head-to-head history under Andoni Iraola: “We lost both games against them and we know the difficulty of that,” he said, underlining the test that awaits regardless of selection issues.

Chris Richards has offered reassurance after being stretchered off during Crystal Palace’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal defeat to Arsenal. The USMNT defender’s exit prompted immediate concern among Palace supporters and sparked wider unease after another national-team player was recently sidelined.

“Thanks everybody for the messages, won’t be long til I’m back,” Richards posted on Instagram.

Manager Oliver Glasner provided further detail on the injury, saying it was a knock to the foot following a stamp and that medical staff treated the area. “He had a knock on his foot, [someone] stamped on his foot and it had to be stitched,” Glasner revealed. “The doctor told me it doesn’t look so bad. I’m always hopeful and we have to be hopeful.

“I don’t know if he will be okay for the Tottenham game but I’m still hoping he will be back for the Fulham game [on Jan. 1] because we have 16 outfield players and we can’t afford to miss someone else.“

Palace travel into a Premier League fixture with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, but Glasner stopped short of predicting Richards’ immediate return. He did signal optimism that the defender could be available when 2026 arrives next week, a timeline that, if it holds, would limit the interruption to Palace’s defensive options.

The developments are also significant for the USMNT. Richards is viewed as an important option in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, and his fitness matters ahead of next summer’s World Cup. The young defender missed the 2022 World Cup through injury and will be eager to secure a place at the tournament in 2026.

The club will monitor Richards’ recovery in the coming days as medical staff assess the stitched foot and determine the exact length of his absence. For now, the message from player and coach is cautiously positive.

William Saliba has set a blunt target for his team as Arsenal pursue what would be an unprecedented campaign in English football. The centre back backed his side to compete for the Quadruple this season and warned teammates that history will not remember them without silverware in the cabinet.

Alongside their Premier League lead, Arsenal also sit first in the Champions League standings, have reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals and are regarded among the favourites to win the FA Cup. Completing the Quadruple has never been done in English football. Manchester United (1998–99) and Manchester City (2022–23) have each won the Treble, but Saliba admitted he is daring to dream of becoming the first team to achieve more.

“Of course [Arsenal could win multiple trophies], because we know that in every competition we play, we know we can win it,” Saliba stressed. He pointed to recent near-misses as proof of capacity rather than a barrier. “We have been close in the Premier League in the past three seasons, and last season we were in the semi-finals of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, so we know that we can win every competition.”

Saliba has limited silverware from his time at the club so far. He was not part of that FA Cup triumph five years ago and has just two Community Shield victories to his name. Winning trophies was a major factor in his decision to sign a new contract in September.

“We have to show that on the pitch and we have to start winning trophies now,” he warned. Looking ahead to the Carabao Cup semi-final run, he added: “We are in the semifinals of the Carabao Cup so there are three games left for us, and we have to do the job in January against Chelsea. It will be a big game, a big derby, so we have to keep going. We know that we are close and we have to learn the lessons from last season.

“At the end of your career we count our trophies, and the Carabao Cup is one of them—and now we are in the semi-final and of course we want to win this competition, like every competition that we play.”