Mikel Arteta has addressed the heated exchange between Declan Rice and Albert Steifenberg during Arsenal’s half-time game against Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta and Albert Steifenberg during Arsenal’s win over Chelsea (Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has dismissed issues between Arsenal assistant coach Albert Steifenberg and Declan Rice following a heated exchange between the two. Rice was clearly upset after the pair were caught on camera having a heated argument in the Stamford Bridge tunnel earlier this week, but Arteta said the matter had been resolved.
he said on Friday. “Everything is resolved and everything is fine. Luckily, by the time I noticed it, the problem had been resolved, so that was great.” Video footage of a heated argument between the two sides has been released following the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win over Chelsea.
In the video, Rice can be seen gesturing wildly at Steifenberg, and Gabriel Magalhães steps in to try to defuse the situation. Rice was substituted with about 10 minutes left in the game and hugged his coach before returning to the bench.
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Early in the game, Rice set up Ben White’s opening goal within the first few minutes. Goals from Martin Zvimendi and Victor Gökeres put Arsenal in the lead, but Alejandro Garnacho’s brace made the second leg at the Emirates Stadium an attractive one.
Before that crucial game, the Gunners have five games in the Premier League and Champions League. The first event will take place this Saturday night with a visit to Nottingham Forest.
Arteta’s injury concerns have eased recently, with Cristian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafioli, Piero Hincapie and Max Daumann currently sidelined. Despite this, the Gunners manager suggested a comeback could happen this weekend.
Declan Rice’s brutal incident caught on camera (Image: )
Asked if anyone in the quartet would be able to return, he said: “There is a possibility that they will come back, so we need to meet with the medical staff now. We are having a training session now and we need to see if anyone can come back at the weekend.”
After the match at the City Ground, Arsenal will continue their away fixtures and face Inter in the penultimate Europa League stage.
The Gunners will then return to north London to welcome Manchester United, who will be replaced by Michael Carrick as interim manager following the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.
Declan Rice has become one of Arsenal’s most important players (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Kairat Almaty will visit the Emirates Stadium a few days later, with Arsenal aiming to secure a top-eight spot that would allow them to avoid the play-off rounds.
A meeting with Leeds United at Elland Road concludes the Gunners’ January schedule, followed by a semi-final second leg against the Blues.
February will be another busy month as Arteta’s side could play up to six games, depending on whether they reach the Carabao Cup final.
Currently scheduled are matches against Sunderland, Brentford and Tottenham, as well as an FA Cup fourth round match against Wigan Athletic.
