Arteta Provides Arsenal Injury Update Ahead of Brighton Clash

March 4, 2026

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is sweating over several key players ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Gunners head to the AMEX Stadium on the back of a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.

That win extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points.

But the victory came at a cost.

Arteta is now managing a growing injury list — and the timing could not be more challenging in what is shaping up to be a crucial run-in.

Declan Rice: A Major Doubt

The biggest concern for Arsenal supporters is the fitness of Declan Rice.

The England midfielder was withdrawn in the 76th minute of the Chelsea victory, having struggled visibly in the second half.

Arteta did not sugarcoat the situation after the final whistle.

“Declan asked to be substituted,” the Arsenal manager said. “He’s going to have to get checked and see if he’s available for Wednesday [against Brighton] unfortunately.”

Rice has been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers this season. Losing him — even temporarily — would be a significant blow.

Christian Nørgaard came on as his replacement and could be set for another start at Brighton if Rice fails to recover in time.

Martin Odegaard Still Struggling

Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, was absent from the squad entirely for the Chelsea game.

The Norwegian playmaker has been dealing with a knee injury that has been lingering since a game against Brentford in mid-February.

Arteta made his stance clear ahead of the weekend fixture.

“Unfortunately Martin is still not feeling totally comfortable with that knee injury, and we decided not to risk him,” the Spaniard confirmed.

Odegaard had returned briefly as a substitute against Tottenham, raising hopes of a full comeback. But his condition has not improved enough to feature.

His availability for the Brighton trip remains uncertain.

Ben White Remains a Doubt

Right-back Ben White also missed the Chelsea clash and is another player whose fitness is being monitored closely.

White has suffered a series of knocks in recent months, and this latest setback has kept him out of Arsenal’s last two fixtures.

Arteta offered little clarity on his timeline ahead of Sunday’s match.

“We’re waiting for tomorrow, the last training session, to understand if we have one or two available from last week,” he said.

If White is ruled out again, Cristhian Mosquera is likely to deputise at right-back.

Mikel Merino: Long-Term Absence Continues

Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino remains sidelined following surgery on a rare foot injury.

The former Real Sociedad man has been out of action for months, and his recovery is expected to take several more weeks at minimum.

Arteta acknowledged the long process ahead when asked about Merino’s recovery.

“Obviously, it’s a long process. You’re talking about bone healing, so you need to be patient. You respect the timings, and I’m sure Mikel is going to do everything that he possibly can to speed up the process. We’re talking about months, whether it’s three, four or five, we don’t know.”

Raya Also Causing Concern

There is also a potential worry in goal.

David Raya was outstanding against Chelsea but was seen requiring treatment late in the game. Arteta revealed the goalkeeper had been carrying minor issues heading into the match.

“I don’t know what happened in that action. He had some niggles this week, so I don’t know if it’s related to that. But overall, very happy,” the manager said.

Raya’s status will be monitored ahead of Wednesday’s fixture.

Rotations Expected at Brighton

Despite the injury concerns, Arteta has signalled that changes are coming — and not all of them forced.

With a packed schedule ahead, including FA Cup commitments, the Arsenal boss made clear that squad depth will be called upon.

“We’re going to have to make changes and give opportunities to everybody to be fresh,” Arteta stated.

Kai Havertz, who returned from injury as a substitute against Chelsea, is expected to start and could lead the line.

The Bigger Picture

Arsenal are currently chasing an unprecedented quadruple — the Premier League title, FA Cup, Champions League, and Carabao Cup — making squad management more critical than ever.

Arteta will need every available body fit and firing over the coming weeks.

For now, all eyes are on the Brighton game — and whether Arsenal can continue their title charge without some of their most important players.

Kick-off at the AMEX Stadium is on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.