Mikel Arteta Clarifies the Tunnel Incident with Declan Rice: 'All Sorted, All Good'
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has addressed the recent controversy surrounding an incident between Declan Rice and assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg. The incident, which occurred in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge, was captured on video and showed Rice visibly frustrated, throwing his arms up in the air. However, Arteta has since dismissed any problems between the two, stating that the issue has been resolved.
In a press conference, Arteta said, 'All sorted, all good. The good thing is that by the time I found out, the problem was already resolved.' This statement comes after video footage of their heated disagreement emerged following Arsenal's victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
The incident involved Rice arguing with Stuivenberg, with Gabriel Magalhaes having to intervene to calm the situation. Despite the tension, Rice had a successful game, providing an assist for Ben White to score the first goal for Arsenal.
Looking ahead, Arsenal has a busy schedule, with five games across the Premier League and Champions League before their decisive fixture against Chelsea. Arteta also hinted at potential returns to the team this weekend, as some injured players might be available for the upcoming matches.
The Gunners' next game is against Nottingham Forest, followed by a trip to the City Ground to face Inter. After that, they will host Manchester United and then welcome Kairat Almaty to the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal's focus is on securing a top-eight finish and avoiding a play-off tie.
The month of February promises to be equally busy, with up to six matches on the schedule, depending on their progress in the Carabao Cup. Games against Sunderland, Brentford, Tottenham, and Wigan Athletic are all part of their upcoming fixtures.
