Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has provided injury updates on Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice after suffering scares in Saturday's 5-0 mauling of Crystal Palace. The Gunners romped to victory at the Emirates Stadium to push their Premier League title bid back on track following a woeful spell of results.
Arteta's side had lost ground on Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race, winning just one and losing three of their last five games in the competition.
But they piled on Palace's prolonged misery in north London, leading 2-0 at half-time through a Gabriel header and Dean Henderson own goal, both from corners.
Leandro Trossard added a third just before the hour mark before Gabriel Martinelli's late stoppage-time brace turned the comfortable victory into a thrashing.
Arsenal didn't leave unscathed, though. Rice grimaced as he precariously left the pitch for Jorginho in the 73rd minute, sparking concerns. Gabriel did the same 10 minutes from time, being replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
After full-time, Arteta confirmed that he withdrew Rice as a precaution due to discomfort in his hamstring. Gabriel appears to be more of a concern with a knee issue.
"Declan [Rice] was feeling something, a sensation in his hamstring, so we won't take any risks at 3-0," Arteta explained.
Declan Rice left the pitch early in Arsenal's win. (Image: Getty)
He added: "The other is Gabriel Magalhaes. He had a tackle in the first half on his knee, and he was struggling. I hope [it's not serious]."
Arteta is currently without Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mohamed Elneny, Thomas Partey and Fabio Viera through injury.
Arsenal return to action in 10 days with a potentially tricky trip to Nottingham Forest, who have become much harder to beat under former Tottenham Hotspur boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
The Spanish coach wants to use the period before the trip to the City Ground to hand some of his players rest and then get back to work.
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