- The Gunners manager has provided a fitness update on three key players
- Arsenal have several injury doubts ahead of Sunday's clash against Chelsea
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Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on three key players ahead of Arsenal's crunch weekend derby clash against rivals Chelsea.
The Gunners boss finds himself in the unfamiliar territory of trailing the Blues in the Premier League standings with Enzo Maresca guiding his Chelsea squad to a surprise fourth place ahead of Sunday's contest.
Arsenal are currently enduring a torrid run of form, winless in their last three Premier League outings with losses coming against Bournemouth and Newcastle, while they also suffered a midweek Champions League defeat against Inter Milan.
Injuries to key players have been cited as a major reason for Arsenal's drop-off that has seen some doubt the club's Premier League title ambitions.
Midfielders Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino are all doubts ahead of Arsenal's upcoming trip to Stamford Bridge and Arteta has now addressed their chances of featuring against Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on three key players ahead of Arsenal's crunch derby clash against rivals Chelsea
Declan Rice is a major doubt for Arsenal's trip to Chelsea having not trained this week
Gunners midfielder Mikel Merino (middle) has been nursing a head injury after clashing with Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer (left) in midweek
Rice missed the midweek defeat against Inter Milan after suffering a foot injury against Newcastle in their latest Premier League outing and Arteta is remaining coy on his chances of playing on Sunday.
'I have to be very vague on that one because there's no clarity if he's going to be fit on the weekend,' the Arsenal boss said.
'He hasn't trained yet and it's not clear if he'll be able to play,' added Arteta.
The Spaniard is also waiting to see if Havertz and Merino will be fit to play in the derby clash, with the German playmaker suffering a head injury against Milan that has required treatment.
Summer acquisition Merino has also been dealing with a head knock after coming off at half time at the San Siro following a clash with Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Commenting on the pair's fitness, Arteta said: 'We will have to wait to see how they react.
Kai Havertz remains a doubt after suffering a 'nasty cut' in Arsenal's defeat against Inter Milan
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard is set to return to Premier League action for the first time since August
'Kai had a nasty cut so we had to take him off. With Mikel he wasn't feeling great the day before so we had to sub him at half time.'
The positive news for Arsenal supporters is the return of captain Martin Odegaard who is available for Premier League selection for the first time since suffering a long-term injury in August.
Odegaard came on as a substitute against Inter, but Arteta refused to comment on whether the Norwegian is in a position to start versus Chelsea.
'Everybody in the squad will be fit and available to start the game. Then it will be a decision on whether to start the game.'
