November 7th 2024.
Declan Rice is facing a tough challenge this weekend as he prepares to play for Arsenal against Chelsea with a broken toe. The talented midfielder picked up the injury during last week's match against Newcastle, causing him to miss the midweek game against Inter Milan. Despite the pain, Rice has been included in Lee Carsley's England squad for upcoming games against Greece and Republic of Ireland.
It has been reported that Rice has been unable to even wear a boot on his injured foot, but he is determined to push through and play against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. This will be a crucial game for Arsenal, who have failed to win in their last three Premier League matches and are now sitting in fifth place, tied with Chelsea and seven points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Rice sustained the injury during the Newcastle game and has not been feeling well since. He will be assessed on Thursday to determine if he is fit to play against Chelsea. If he does, Rice is also eager to represent England in the upcoming international games.
In the absence of Rice, Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey started in midfield during the Inter Milan game. However, Merino was involved in two controversial penalty incidents, with the first one resulting in a penalty for Inter after the ball struck his arm. Arteta was not pleased with the decision and was also frustrated that his team's own penalty appeals were turned down earlier in the game. Merino was substituted at half-time after being punched in the head by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Arteta explained that Merino was not concussed, but he was feeling unwell before and after the game. The manager decided to take him off as a precaution and wants him to be at 100% for future matches. On a positive note, Martin Odegaard made his return to the field in the final minutes of the Inter Milan game after being out for three months with an ankle injury.
It will be interesting to see if Rice will be able to play through the pain and help Arsenal secure a win against Chelsea. With both teams tied on points, this will be a crucial game in the Premier League standings. Fans are eager to see Rice back on the field and cheering on the Gunners as they aim for victory.
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