Declan Rice injury update as Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal star 'had to come off'

Arsenal were left with injury concerns over Declan Rice and Cristhian Mosquera after their 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night

Mikel Arteta has revealed Arsenal will assess Declan Rice on Thursday after he was forced off the field through injury against Brentford. The Gunners also saw defender Cristhian Mosquera limp off the field in the opening half of their Premier League clash.

Rice was substituted in the 83rd minute of action, but did not require the help of the medical staff who treated him, to make his way off. The central midfielder was replaced by Viktor Gyokeres and spotted at full time with his left calf strapped up and ice applied to it.

Mosquera did not make it to half-time as he continued in the centre of defence in the absence of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. Gunners boss Arteta was forced to rely on Jurrien Timber for more than 45 minutes against the Bees, as he saw his injury issues worsen.

Speaking following the match, the head coach provided a brief assessment of the situation. Arteta said in his press conference: "Yes, obviously it's never good news. Declan had to come off. We don't know.

"We have to see tomorrow what he's got. And Mosquera is the other one that is out. Obviously we have big Gabi and Willy out as well. So we have to adapt. It's been a theme of this season. But when I look at the players, they haven't been playing much.

"He couldn't carry on playing, so he had to come off," he added on Rice. "He can walk..."

The Spaniard had few details to add on Mosquera's ailment. "It was part of the knee or ankle, but he couldn't tell us," he revealed.

Despite their injury issues, Arsenal were able to record a 2-0 victory against Brentford. Mikel Merino's first-half header and Bukayo Saka's late strike earned three points for the Gunners.

Arsenal were largely comfortable, but Brentford boss Keith Andrews believes his team unnerved the Gunners. The Bees coach was happy with his side's efforts.

"I thought we unnerved them," he said. "Until the goal right at the end, the bits in between, we caused them untold problems. To say I'm proud of the boys is an understatement.

"I thought there were opportunities to play through them a bit more. I rolled the dice and went to a back four for the last few minutes. But it was a fantastic performance against top-level opponents. Arsenal are outstanding, the table doesn't lie.

"On another day we could have got something."

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