Arsenal fans think big hint has been dropped over Chelsea team selection as photo emerges

Paul Merson interviewed Declan Rice ahead of Sunday's clash between Arsenal and Chelsea (Image: X: @PaulMerse)

Arsenal hero Paul Merson has sparked a frenzy on social media by posting photos of his recent interviews with manager Mikel Arteta and midfield star Declan Rice.

The Gunners travel to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon for a high-stakes Premier League clash with big implications for the top of the table. But Rice is a doubt for the trip to Stamford Bridge after missing the midweek defeat at Inter Milan with a suspected broken toe.

In the picture posted by Merson to his official X account, many fans cottoned onto the fact that Rice was wearing normal footwear, and took that as a sign he will be ready to play on Sunday.

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"Doesn't look like Dec has a broken toe there," wrote @pistol_kare, while @GoonerDave90 added: "You mean Rice is available?" Elsewhere, @Groovyyo1 chimed in with: "Rice is fit?"

Rice has started all bar one of Arsenal's Premier League games this season. And they need his midfield leadership now more than ever, with Liverpool surging seven points ahead of them in the title race during Martin Odegaard's injury absence.

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Arteta refused to give much away during the Champions League jaunt to Italy. "I have to be very vague on [Rice's condition] because there’s no clarity on whether he’s going to be fit for the weekend," he said.

Mikel Arteta is grappling with an injury-hit squad in north London (Image: Getty)

"[Whether he has a broken toe is] for the doctor, what I can say is that he hasn’t trained yet and it is not clear whether he’s going to be available or not to play."

Rice is one of numerous injury concerns for Arteta going into this weekend's battle. Odegaard made his first competitive appearance in over two months when he came on as a substitute at the San Siro, but it remains to be seen whether he will be deemed fit enough to start in the Premier League.

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Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino will also be subjected to late fitness tests, having both been subbed off against Inter. Kieran Tierney, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu are not expected back until after the international break at the earliest.

Meanwhile Raheem Sterling will be forced to watch on from the sidelines as he is not permitted to face his parent club. Chelsea will take to the pitch on Sunday brimming with confidence, having hit eight goals past Armenian minnows FC Noah on Thursday night.