Mikel Arteta handed second Arsenal injury concern vs Crystal Palace

Arsenal star Declan Rice was substituted against Crystal Palace after receiving treatment from physios (Image: (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))

Declan Rice was forced off with an injury to his right leg in the latter stages of Arsenal's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace. The Gunners midfielder supplied the cross that led to Eberechi Eze scoring but he was unable to see out the game.

Just after the 80th minute, Rice went to the ground and could quite clearly be seen holding the upper part of right leg with physios seeing to him before Mikel Merino replaced him. Rice had been limping earlier in the clash but appeared to run that minor problem off.

Ahead of the London derby, there were concerns over Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes after neither were spotted in training.

Arteta had also revealed the latter had not trained since being forced off in the Champions League triumph over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening.

The Brazil international was able to complete the whole game with his centre-back partner William Saliba the one taken off at the interval for Cristhian Mosquera.

The summer signing has filled in for Saliba in recent months with the France international picking up an injury already this season.

Rice has featured in almost every Arsenal game this season with his minutes being carefully managed by Arteta as the depth in his squad is now very strong. Major injury blows have still been suffered by Arsenal though, with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard among those to suffer problems.

The latter duo are still out but there is hope they can return in November alongside Noni Madueke.

(Image: (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images))

On the players that are currently in the treatment room, he admitted on Friday: "They are all progressing really well, they are all starting to do certain activities.

"They are all super willing to be available as quick as possible but at the moment none of them are yet in contention in the next week or so."

With several key players already absent and not looking likely to return imminently, Arteta will be hoping that Saliba and Rice have not suffered significant injuries. While they did lose two key players to the spine of his team, Arsenal's victory has seen them increase their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Arsenal are back in action next Wednesday when they face Brighton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at Emirates Stadium.

Their next league outing arrives next Saturday afternoon away from north London against newly-promoted Burnley.