Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Declan Rice is raring to get back on the pitch. He said that the Englishman is ready to play after getting injured last season.
Speaking to the media, Arteta said that Rice is showing the right attitude and has been talking about joining training. He added that mentality is more important than being physically ready and said:
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“We have three different pre-seasons with different groups, but the most important thing is the attitude. When I speak to Declan Rice, he is already saying, ‘Ok, if I come this day, then I can play then.’ That is much more powerful than the programme. We want to adapt to the context, which is different.” (via Metro)
Talking about the training sessions so far for the players who are back, Arteta said everyone is keen to work hard on the pitch. He stated the signs are clear that the players are hungry to deliver in the upcoming season and said:
“First of all, I saw the energy in the bodies, in their eyes, how they look. And then the players, it was incredible – the shape that they have all come back, better than ever. That tells you the direction that we want to seek and the culture that we have set.”
“Then the way they are training, the questions that they ask you, the direction that they want to take. They are all super powerful signs. It’s great to see everybody again with the same spirit after such a big season. To see everybody coming back in the building with such energy and desire to go again is really touching.”
Arsenal have signed Christos Tzolis and Illan Meslier this summer, and are pushing to get Vnicius Jr from Real Madrid.
What happened to Arsenal star Declan Rice?
Arsenal star Declan Rice revealed in June that he has been dealing with a hamstring issue for some time. He claimed that it has been causing pain since Christmas 2025 and said:
“I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision.”
Declan Rice played a key role for Arsenal as they won the Premier League title last season and reached the UEFA Champions League final, where they lost to PSG.
Edited by Sripad