Declan Rice has admitted his injury issues were affecting him over the summer at the World Cup, but his post-tournament rest has really helped.
Declan Rice has started four of Arsenal’s five matches so far this season, after coming off the bench in the Community Shield win over Manchester City.
But the prospect of Rice playing such a significant early role in Arsenal’s season seemed to be in serious doubt at one stage, with England reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup and the midfielder struggling with illness and injury at the tournament.
Speaking this week, Rice has admitted he was struggling a bit at the summer tournament, but his subsequent holidays have done him some good.
“I think everyone knew I had an issue with a neural hamstring,” Rice confirmed. “But also on the top of the Premier League season, which was so demanding, the Champions League, to then play a World Cup in that heat really does take its toll.
“I’m a player that goes on the pitch, wants to be fresh and give 100% every time I put on an England shirt. And yes, there were stages where I felt really, really good and stages where I didn’t feel I was good.
“So it’s one of those things I just had to manage. And in the summer, I just took a complete time off.
“I didn’t do anything. Let it really rest, let it settle down and come back refreshed, feeling ready, ready to go again. And yes, I feel really good at the minute in really good form.”
Arsenal will be hoping for another busy season in 2026/27, with the Gunners already making positive starts in the Premier League and the Champions League, and the domestic cups still to come.
Arsenal will kick off their League Cup campaign against Ipswich Town next week, having reached the final of the competition last season. Then the FA Cup will get underway in January, with Arsenal looking to improve on last season’s quarter-final exit.
Rice’s decision to take some time for a complete rest was certainly a smart choice, as he could easily repeat the 55 games he played for the club last season.
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