Mikel Arteta provides worrying Declan Rice injury update as Arsenal hit with fresh blow | OneFootball

Rice missed the trip to Anfield and is a doubt for Arsenal’s match at home to Newcastle next weekened

Arteta revealed ahead of the match that Rice “couldn’t even train” in the build-up to the Liverpool match, leaving Mikel Merino to drop back into midfield and Leandro Trossard to lead the line.

Arsenal now have a rare midweek off before they host Newcastle next weekend in their penultimate Premier League match of the season, and victory would effectively wrap up second place in the table.

However, it remains to be seen whether Rice is available to face the Magpies, leaving Arteta increasingly short of options.

Asked for an update on Rice, the Arsenal boss pointed to his hip and said: "I think he is struggling. It does not look good."

Merino will be unavailable against Newcastle, after he was sent-off with ten minutes remaining against Liverpool.

The Spaniard, who scored Arsenal’s equaliser in the 2-2 draw, was shown a second yellow card as he slid in on Dominik Szoboszlai.

Jorginho has had injury issues of his own in recent weeks and did not make the squad at Anfield, while Leandro Trossard limped off in the second-half with what appeared to be a hamstring issue.

Jurrien Timber was an unused substitute, but Arteta confirmed that the Dutchman was not an option to come on.

He said: “With Jurrien we brought him to see if he was better but it was clear that he was not fit to play.”