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BOURNEMOUTH, England -- Mikel Arteta believes that each game starts with his prematch news conference. The Arsenal manager is consequently guarded with his team news to prevent an opponent gaining any advantage, and so in that context, Declan Rice's match-winning contribution in Saturday's 3-2 win at AFC Bournemouth was more than 24 hours in the planning.
Rice missed Tuesday's win against Aston Villa with a swollen knee, and Arteta was sufficiently vague in Friday's media address to cast serious doubt over his midfielder's participation at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.