Declan Rice suffers broken toe! Arsenal sweating on midfielder's fitness ahead of huge Premier League clash against Chelsea with England star eager to play

After suffering a broken toe during Arsenal's loss to Newcastle United last weekend, Rice was ruled out of their midweek Champions League showdown against Inter. This setback, however, hasn’t deterred his resolve to play in the upcoming league fixture against the Blues, according to The Telegraph.

Arsenal’s recent performances have not been up to the mark in recent weeks, with only one victory in their last four games. The defeat at Newcastle has put Arsenal in a vulnerable position, making the Chelsea game even more pivotal. Hence, Rice is prepared to face Chelsea through sheer determination even though he has reportedly struggled even to put a boot on his injured foot and has not trained at all week.

In addition to his commitment to Arsenal, Rice has been named in Lee Carsley’s England squad for upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. England’s interim manager faces limited options, with regulars John Stones and Harry Maguire unavailable and Kobbie Mainoo also sidelined. This only increases Rice’s importance to England’s lineup, especially for the crucial game against Greece in Athens. The midfielder is eager to put on the Three Lions shirt as well, provided the injury does not worsen if does indeed play against Chelsea.

Rice’s willingness to put his body on the line for both Arsenal and England highlights his dedication to both club and country. However, it remains to be seen if Mikel Arteta is willing to risk the midfielder for a single league encounter, or, chooses to leave him out to avoid aggravating the injury further.