Due to a back issue, Declan Rice was forced off at halftime vs Tottenham. Mikel Arteta’s team twice blew the lead at the Emirates Stadium. There aren’t many things we can count on in football, but we can always count on the North London Derby to be full of drama, intrigue and controversy. Ange Postecoglou, a straight-talking Australian, may be Tottenham’s new manager this season. But at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, the status quo prevailed. The most recent match between these two fierce rivals had a little bit of everything, including an ugly own goal, some VAR controversy, and a humorous mistake.
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Declan Rice injury big blow for Arsenal
The North London Derby would have been a sour one for Arsenal. Not only did they lose to a team that had not previously won at the Emirates in a league match under Harry Redknapp’s leadership. But they also lost their quickly-emerging star, Declan Rice, to injury at halftime.
Dropping points will also hurt more than usual. This is because the Gunners twice led the game, wasted many good opportunities to end it. Then gave Spurs a way back in by making a very egregious error.
Arteta confirmed the worst suspicions of Arsenal supporters in his post-game news conference. Namely, Declan Rice’s back ailment, which will now need to be “assessed” to ascertain its severity, was the real reason for his substitution at halftime.
Injury-plagued Gunners
The announcement is the most recent setback in a string of injuries. This began when Jurrien Timber ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his very first game as an Arsenal player.
In actuality, it was obvious that Declan Rice wasn’t able to provide his best effort in the first half. He occasionally appeared half a yard off the pace or out of position. It also seemed that he was a bit late to his tackles and dropped a few passes.
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Arsenal weren’t exactly at their best either without Declan Rice playing as brilliantly as he has been lately. Since the midfielder is already crucial to the way Arteta wants his squad to play this year, the Spaniard will be crossing his fingers that the injury is mild. Especially since Thomas Partey is out injured as well.
Although there is some good news around the corner for Arsenal fans. Early reports indicate that Declan Rice’s injury is not as serious as earlier suspected. Declan could be fit to play this weekend against Bournemouth. Even if not this weekend, reports suggest that he will definitely be fit to face Manchester City on October 8th.
The trio of Thomas Partey, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard could all be available to face Manchester City as well.
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