Mikel Arteta has moved to quell concerns over a fiery tunnel incident involving Arsenal star Declan Rice and assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg, insisting the matter is firmly in the past.
The Heated Half-Time Exchange
The animated spat between the England midfielder and the Dutch coach was captured on camera during the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge earlier this week. Footage showed a clearly agitated Rice gesticulating towards Stuivenberg in the tunnel, with defender Gabriel Magalhaes stepping in to act as a peacemaker.
Despite the visible tension, the situation was defused by the time the manager became aware of it. "All sorted, all good," Arteta stated firmly in his Friday press conference. "The good thing is that by the time I found out the problem was resolved so that's very good."
Rice, who had provided an assist for Ben White's early opener in the 3-2 victory over Chelsea, was substituted in the 80th minute. He was seen sharing a hug with Stuivenberg before taking his place on the bench, indicating the row had been settled swiftly.
Focus Shifts to Packed Fixture List
With the internal issue resolved, Arsenal's focus now turns to a demanding schedule. The immediate challenge is a Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest this Saturday evening.
Arteta also provided a positive update on the injury front, hinting that some of the currently sidelined players—Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie, and Max Dowman—could be in contention for a return. "There might be, so I need to meet now with the medical staff. We have a training session now and see if somebody is available for the weekend," he said.
Looking Ahead: A Crucial Period for the Gunners
Following the Forest match, Arsenal face a pivotal period across three competitions:
- An away Champions League fixture against Inter Milan.
- A Premier League clash at home against Manchester United, now led by interim boss Michael Carrick.
- A European match against Kairat Almaty at the Emirates, where victory could secure a top-eight spot and bypass a play-off round.
- A league trip to Leeds United at Elland Road.
- The decisive Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
February promises to be equally hectic, with potential fixtures against Sunderland, Brentford, Tottenham, and an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Wigan Athletic, should the Gunners progress in the cup competitions.
Arteta's swift dismissal of the tunnel incident underscores a desire for unity as his squad enters a season-defining phase, where maintaining focus on the pitch will be paramount.
