Mikel Arteta has dream Arsenal solution to Gabriel and Rice injuries that avoids Liverpool risk

Mikel Arteta is facing an anxious wait on the fitness of Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes ahead of a crucial week for Arsenal. The Gunners kicked off the year with a defeat to Liverpool in FA Cup action after losing back-to-back Premier League games against Fulham and West Ham to end 2023.

A London derby against Crystal Palace was next on the agenda with Arsenal hoping to avoid stretching their unwanted unbeaten streak to four games. Thankfully for Arteta, his players were in fine form and thus able to put five past the Eagles to pick up a huge three points in the Premier League title race.

Despite their victory, both Manchester City and Liverpool secured wins away from home to keep the Gunners third and five points off the latter who continue to lead the way. Nonetheless, securing such an emphatic victory arrived as a huge momentum boost although there were two concerns for Arteta coming out of the game.

In the second half, both Gabriel and Rice left the pitch with injuries and Arteta's update after the game certainly suggested the duo could miss some action. «No, he was feeling some tightness,» Arteta said after the game of his club record signing. «I don’t know what muscle it was. But when he says that at 3-0 then obviously we don’t want to take any risks.»

On the Brazil international, he added: «The same with big Gabi. He had some discomfort from a tackle in the first half and he was struggling a bit so it was the right moment to take him off the field.» Since that game, Arsenal have uploaded a number of images from their training sessions over the last seven days and there is still no sign of Rice or Gabriel.

While that will come as a double injury concern, a major fitness boost has emerged for Arsenal with Thomas