Late Declan Rice fitness test needed as Arsenal prepare for tough Bournemouth trip

Arteta spoke at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday morning, shortly after Arsenal strengthened their position at the top of the table. The focus quickly turned to injuries and the challenge awaiting his side at the Vitality Stadium.

Rice missed the midweek 4-1 win over Aston Villa after suffering a knee problem against Brighton. The injury caused swelling, forcing Arsenal to take a cautious approach.

"Not yet, and we have another session today," Arteta said when asked about Rice's availability. "Let's see how he comes today and how that's feeling."

Arsenal remain optimistic the issue is not serious, but Arteta made it clear the club would not take unnecessary risks with the midfielder.

Calafiori, meanwhile, will not feature against Bournemouth. The defender aggravated a previous problem during the warm-up before the Brighton match on 27 December and has now missed two games.

"Riccardo Calafiori is progressing really well," Arteta explained. "But giving a timeline is difficult."

A return in the upcoming home fixture on 8 January against Liverpool is seen as a more realistic target.

Looking ahead to Bournemouth, Arteta stressed the importance of staying focused despite the wider title picture. "We have to win our game and wait," he said. "It's going to be a really tough match but the team is ready."

He also touched on the January transfer window, adding: "We have to be really careful that we make the right decisions for the here and now and for the future."

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was full of respect for the visitors. "Arsenal is going to be very, very, very difficult," he said. "They are by far the best defensive team in the league."

"To beat them, you have to do something special," Iraola added. "If you play at your normal level, it's not going to be enough."

Iraola confirmed he expected Antoine Semenyo to be available, despite recent speculation, as Bournemouth prepare for a demanding test against the league leaders.