Declan Rice injury latest after Arsenal-Everton substitution | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Declan Rice was withdrawn against Everton due to injury, with the Gunners forced into making the change.

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With the scores level at 0-0, Mikel Arteta made five substitutions between the 62nd and 74th minutes of Arsenal’s game against Everton on Sunday.

The assumption was that all five changes were attempts to get the Gunners over the line to score a winner and take all three points, but Arteta admitted afterwards that he had no choice in Declan Rice’s case.

“Well, with Declan, I had to take him out because he was feeling something,” Arteta explained. “He has been with a little niggle for the last week or so. He has to be subbed in that moment. We have to do it.”

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Fortunately, Arteta also confirmed that Martin Odegaard’s substitution wasn’t due to injury, and he attempted to defend the decision to take off the team captain.

“With Martin it was a tactical decision to try to change their rhythm, especially on that side,” Arteta said.

“If Ethan comes in and scores a goal, is he a great sub? If he doesn’t, you have taken your captain out. That‘s football.

“[Odegaard’s reaction] was the same reaction as Martinelli, anybody. I’m sure that they want to continue to play the 90 minutes. But that’s why we have the subs. To try to help the team.”

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Rice joins Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori on Arsenal’s list of injury doubts for the next game, with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu also certainly out of that match.

Arsenal will face Crystal Palace in the League Cup on Wednesday, a competition Arteta often rotates in anyway. The manager may opt not to risk Rice in the competition to allow him to recover fully.

Our first clue will be whether Rice is involved in training with the team over the next couple of days.