Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is set to miss the Premier League title showdown with Aston Villa due to an injury suffered against Brighton.

What happened to Declan Rice?

Rice completed the 90 minutes as the Gunners won 2-1, but the injury was severe enough to keep him out of the upcoming match.

Impact on Arsenal's title hopes

The absence of Rice will be a significant blow to Mikel Arteta's side, who are currently 7 points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table. Arsenal's recent form has been impressive, with 26 wins, 7 draws, and 5 losses from 38 games, and a goal difference of +44.

Potential returns for Arsenal

However, the Gunners may be boosted by the return of Jurrien Timber and Ben White, who have been working their way back from injuries. | Player | Status | | --- | --- | | Jurrien Timber | Expected to be fit | | Ben White | Ahead of schedule | | Gabriel | May return to starting line-up |

Emery's title ambitions

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has played down talk of his team's title hopes, despite their impressive 11-game winning streak. Emery said: "We are motivated, but for the moment, we have momentum for the match we want to play tomorrow."

Current context

As of June 29, 2026, Arsenal sits at the top of the Premier League table with 85 points, and their recent form has been strong, with 3 wins and 2 draws in their last 5 games. Their last result was a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint Germain on May 30, 2026.