Rice says 60‑game season is doable as Arsenal watch his load

Declan Rice has brushed aside Arsenal’s worries, insisting that a workload of 60 games a season is sustainable despite playing 69 matches for club and country last term, including the World Cup, where he managed neural back and hamstring pain with pain‑killing injections.

Arsenal are keeping a close eye on the 27‑year‑old’s minutes. The club gave him only three weeks off before he returned to training a week before the Community Shield last month.

Season tally and medical measures

Rice logged 69 appearances last season for Arsenal and England. He revealed that during the World Cup he received pain‑killing injections to cope with neural back and hamstring pain, the latter stemming from a hamstring injury in December.

He pointed to his durability, noting:

“I think for the last six seasons, even since my West Ham days when it was in Europe, I've played 60 plus every season.”

Rice added:

“So I think it is sustainable because I've shown that I can do it. It's just about maintaining the level and consistency of performances.”

Impact on Arsenal’s campaign

He also highlighted his role in Arsenal’s run to the Champions League final, praising Martin Ødegaard’s strike in the 1‑0 win over Napoli. Rice said he was relieved to be over the niggle that hampered his freshness under Thomas Tuchel in the United States.

Arsenal will continue to monitor his workload closely, given the limited rest he received and the injections used at the World Cup.