Declan Rice: 60-Game Arsenal Seasons Are Sustainable

Declan Rice believes he is capable of making more than 60 appearances again this season, even though Arsenal remain cautious after he competed through discomfort at the World Cup.

Rice featured 69 times for Arsenal and England last season. During the World Cup, however, he revealed that he had received pain-relieving injections to deal with nerve-related back and hamstring discomfort following a hamstring problem in December. Arsenal are understood to be carefully tracking the 27-year-old’s workload after he had only three weeks of rest before resuming training, one week ahead of last month’s Community Shield.

Rice was introduced from the bench in place of Bruno Guimarães during the win over Manchester City in Cardiff and has started every Arsenal game since, while Guimarães has been carefully reintegrated following injury. Arsenal’s £75m signing of the Brazilian midfielder from Newcastle was partly intended to ease Rice’s workload. Even so, Rice completed the full Champions League match against Napoli on Wednesday, while Mikel Merino made way for Guimarães.

“For each of the past six seasons, going back to my time at West Ham when we were playing in Europe, I have made more than 60 appearances,” Rice said. “I therefore believe it is manageable because I have already proved that I can handle it.

“The challenge is to preserve my fitness, performance level and consistency. What matters most to me is being available each week, playing well and contributing to victories. I have been fortunate enough to do that, and I am determined to repeat it this season.”

Arsenal reportedly offered Rice an extended break after his World Cup campaign, but he wanted to return in time for the beginning of the season. He is likely to be selected in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the Nations League games against Spain, Czechia and Croatia when the group is revealed next Friday. It is not yet clear how often he will play, however, and Arsenal may ask for both Rice and Bukayo Saka to receive another period of rest. Although Rice described the World Cup as “difficult”, he insists he now feels “re-energised”.

“I am feeling excellent right now and believe I am playing well, so the aim is to keep that going,” he said. “People were aware of the nerve-related hamstring issue. After such an intense Premier League and Champions League campaign, competing at a World Cup in extreme heat placed even more stress on my body. Whenever I represent England, I want to step onto the field feeling sharp and able to give everything. There were moments when I felt very strong and others when I did not. It was frustrating not to feel completely fit, but it was something I had to control and work through.”

Rice is among three England players nominated for this week’s Ballon d’Or, alongside Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. The ceremony, usually staged in Paris, is scheduled to take place in London on 26 October in honour of Sir Stanley Matthews, the first recipient of the prize in 1956. Rice hopes Kane can become the first English player to claim the award since Michael Owen in 2001. “I would be delighted to see Harry win,” he said. “I wish him every success.”