Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta makes ominous Declan Rice comment as huge injury blow emerges

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Arsenal are flying high after emphatic back-to-back victories over Tottenham and Bayern Munich . They sit top of both the Premier League and the Champions League - and have emerged as favourites to win each competition.

Their next challenge is a trip to Chelsea , who trail them by six points in the league. Another Arsenal win would underline their title credentials. A defeat, however, could throw the race wide open.

Mikel Arteta's side can take confidence from their recent dominance in this fixture. Arsenal haven't lost to Chelsea since 2021 - their only defeat in the last 12 meetings between the clubs.

Chelsea, though, arrive in excellent form themselves. They've won five of their past six league games and stunned Barcelona with a 3-0 victory in midweek. Compounding matters for Arsenal, a significant injury problem threatens to hand Enzo Maresca's men an advantage.

With that in mind, Mirror Football rounds up the latest Arsenal-related headlines ahead of Sunday's Stamford Bridge showdown.

Arsenal have been dealt a major injury blow, with Gabriel set to be out of action until 2026. The Brazilian defender picked up a thigh injury while on international duty earlier this month and has missed Arsenal's last two games.

Hopes were high that he'd return to action in December, but Arteta has now poured cold water on the idea. When asked if Gabriel would be back before the end of the year, the Spaniard replied: "I don't know, we have to wait and see."

This means the 27-year-old could miss a vital chunk of the season. Arsenal have nine games left in 2025, including a League Cup quarter-final clash with Crystal Palace and potentially tricky ties against Everton , Aston Villa and Brighton in the Premier League over the busy festive period.

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Declan Rice has firmly established himself as one of the best midfielders on the planet - and every bit worth the £105million Arsenal invested in him. His latest commanding display in midweek even sparked murmurs of being in Ballon d'Or consideration.

Yet, in a warning to Arsenal's rivals, Arteta insists there is still another level to come from the England international. "Being with him [Rice] every single day, understanding and connecting with him in the way I have done… We are going to get more [from him]," he said.

"Because he wants more, the team knows him better, his role is growing around the team. The impact he has on the team, it's huge."

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.