Declan Rice is pushing to return to Arsenal for pre-season more than a week before he is due back, easing injury fears after a gruelling World Cup campaign.
Rest period and injury concerns
The midfielder is on holiday after a mandatory three-week break following England's World Cup, where he played the full 90 minutes and scored in the third-place play-off against France on July 18. He is not due back at Arsenal until August 10, with some suggesting he might need additional rest.
Rice has been managing neural pain in his hamstring since Christmas, and dealt with a calf issue, sickness bug and tiredness during the tournament. England coach Thomas Tuchel said Rice was playing through “unbearable discomfort”.
Contact with Arteta
However, Rice has been in contact with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta since the World Cup ended and is desperate to resume training. Arteta said: “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.”
Rice is part of the third group of Arsenal players starting pre-season next month, alongside England team-mates Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, and Spanish trio Martin Zubimendi, David Raya and Mikel Merino.
Pre-season matches
Rice will not feature in Arsenal's first official pre-season match against Girona, nor the following game against Real Betis in Dublin. But his comments suggest he is pushing to return for a home game.
Arsenal host Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup on August 9 and then welcome Cesc Fabregas' Como three days later. If Rice impresses in training, he could feature in that match, building fitness ahead of the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 16.
