Declan Rice
ARS
Center Midfielder
Creative Playmaker
Jan 14, 1999 (27)
Right
6'2"
185 lb
Given some rest
Rice is expected to be fit to start Saturday's match against Leeds after his withdrawal from the England squad was attributed to load management rather than a new injury. The midfielder has been managing several physical issues, including long-term neural hamstring pain that has radiated into his lower back, but reportedly spent part of the international break resting in Dubai, according to The Standard.
Analysis: Rice's England withdrawal appears to have been precautionary, giving him a valuable chance to recharge after starting every match for Arsenal this season and enduring a busy summer at the World Cup. Barring a setback, he should be ready to reclaim his usual spot in the starting XI against Leeds. Rice has supplied two assists across five Premier League appearances this season while remaining a cornerstone of Arsenal's midfield and handling a significant share of the club's set pieces.
Sits out England fixtures
Rice has withdrawn from the England squad for the upcoming Nations League matches.
Analysis: Rice will get three weeks of rest during the international break after starting every match for Arsenal this season, including playing the full 90 minutes against Brighton on Saturday. The midfielder is expected to be available when Arsenal return to action against Leeds United on Oct. 10. Rice has provided two assists across five Premier League appearances this season and remains an undisputed starter in midfield, while also handling a significant share of Arsenal's set pieces.
Two corners in defeat
Rice had one shot (zero on goal), three crosses (one accurate) and two corners in Saturday's 3-0 loss against Brighton. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 97th minute.
Analysis: Rice registered one shot without troubling Bart Verbruggen, two corners, one accurate cross and two interceptions across 90 minutes as Arsenal's defensive midfielder in a match where Brighton's pressing structure repeatedly disrupted his ability to dictate tempo from deep. He was also involved in the sequence that led to Charalampos Kostoulas' halftime strike, losing the ball in midfield before Brighton broke quickly to make it 2-0. Rice and Arsenal head into the international break with questions to answer after their firt defeat of the season.
Supplies assist in victory
Rice assisted once to go with one cross (zero accurate) and one corner in Saturday's 2-0 victory against Sunderland.
Analysis: Rice provided the assist for Arsenal's breakthrough, setting up the opening goal after Sunderland had kept the Gunners scoreless through the first half. He didn't attempt a shot but remained involved in Arsenal's buildup and also handled some set-piece work before being replaced in the 81st minute. Rice has now registered an assist in consecutive Premier League matches, giving him two assists through four league appearances this season.
Assists Sunday
Rice assisted once to go with one shot (zero on goal), three crosses (one accurate) and two corners in Sunday's 2-1 win versus Chelsea.
Analysis: Rice got on the scoresheet Sunday, providing an assist in the win over Chelsea. It's his first direct contribution of the season, adding to a steady opening stretch in which he's produced three key passes and won two tackles across Arsenal's first three Premier League matches , a slow but steady start as he settles into rhythm.
Creates two chances Monday
Rice recorded four crosses (one accurate) and two corners in Monday's 1-0 victory against Aston Villa.
Analysis: Rice had a solid performance in Monday's win as he created two chances and recorded four crosses on the attack. He was excellent on the defensive end too as the team did not allow a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes. Rice was replaced in the 85th minute by Martin Zubimendi.
Quiet despite rout
Rice recorded two shots (zero on goal), four crosses (zero accurate) and three corners in Friday's 3-0 victory against Coventry City.
Analysis: Rice had a quiet day in the center of the park. He did his jobs well and kept Arsenal ticking, but never really took the match over. He's a brilliant midfielder with plenty of upside and he should earn plenty of clean sheets this season, but he may not be at his creative best in every match as Arsenal have so many avenues through which to attack.
Ready to start season opener
Rice is fit and ready to start Friday's season opener against Coventry, according to coach Mikel Arteta. "Yes, they're ready to be involved, yes."
Analysis: Rice's readiness comes after he played 45 minutes off the bench in the Community Shield win over Manchester City, a workload Arteta suggested could preview another heavy season for the durable midfielder following a campaign that saw him tally four goals and five assists across 36 Premier League appearances while helping Arsenal win the title. Rice is expected to slot straight into Arsenal's midfield for the opener as he continues building toward what could be another demanding campaign in terms of minutes played.
Plays 45 minutes in Shield win
Rice played 45 minutes off the bench in Sunday's 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City, with coach Mikel Arteta suggesting the midfielder's remarkable durability could once again see him handle a heavy workload this season. "He's done it previously, the last two or three seasons he's done something very similar to that so he's already done it, hopefully he doesn't need to do it that consistently and focus more on the quality and the performance than the volume but probably he will say the opposite. He will say that he wants to play 70 games this year if he can because he wants to go for everything"
Analysis: Rice's involvement came after his training response cleared him for a role in this fixture, following a season in which he finished with four goals and five assists across 36 Premier League appearances, helping Arsenal win the title, and a strong World Cup for England, where he contributed a goal and two assists while averaging a team high 2.4 chances created per game despite battling minor knocks. Rice is expected to continue building up his workload as the new EPL season approaches which begins on Friday against Coventry.
Could feature in Shield
Rice could be involved in Sunday's Community Shield if his training response is positive, according to coach Mikel Arteta. "They will be available; they trained with us today, they will train tomorrow, and if they are in the condition that we expect them to be, they will be involved"
Analysis: Rice's potential involvement comes after he finished last season with four goals and five assists across 36 Premier League appearances, helping Arsenal win the title, and capped it with a strong World Cup for England, contributing a goal and two assists while averaging a team high 2.4 chances created per game despite battling minor knocks and an illness during the tournament. Rice is expected to build up his workload ahead of the Community Shield.
Back to prepare new season
Rice is back to prepare the new 2026/27 Premier League season with Arsenal, according to the club.
Analysis: Rice finished last season with four goals and five assists across 36 Premier League appearances, helping Arsenal win the title, and capped it with a strong World Cup for England, contributing one goal and two assists while averaging a team high 2.4 chances created per game despite battling minor knocks and an illness during the tournament. His return to club training now shifts focus to preseason preparations as he looks to build on a productive season for both club and country.
Scores, assists in third-place win
Rice scored one goal and assisted once from one shot and two chances created in Saturday's 6-4 victory versus France.
Analysis: Rice took advantage of a defensive mistake to recover a ball and dribble towards the box before firing a well-placed strike in the third minute against France. Other than that, the midfielder did a great job on set pieces, with one of his corner kick crosses leading to the goal that doubled England's lead. He went through some struggles throughout the competition due to minor blows and an illness that limited his involvement, but overall he served as a big piece of his national squad, posting one goal and two assists and averaging a team-high 2.4 chances created per game.
Quiet in loss
Rice generated one shot (one on goal), two crosses (one accurate) and one corner in Wednesday's 2-1 loss against Argentina.
Analysis: Rice was back in the starting XI despite being troubled by an illness, and put together a decent performance. The midfielder was brought off, as England looked to shut the match down, though that didn't work. Rice has been one of England's most important players throughout the World Cup, and should play a role against France in the third-place decider.
Ready to go Wednesday
Rice (illness) is fully fit and available for Wednesday's clash with Argentina, England announced.
Analysis: Rice is back in full training and is fully fit for Wednesday's clash. The midfielder plays a huge role from open play and set-pieces and is expected to be a key part of the XI in the semi final. Rice was also a doubt coming into the quarter final, and was only able to play 45 minutes in the 2-1 win over Norway, so it's possible he will be rotated or limited even if he starts.
Late call for Wednesday
Rice is still feeling unwell after dealing with illness in recent days, and his availability for Wednesday's semi-finals clash against Argentina is in doubt, although there's hope that he'll reach a complete recovery for the match, Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport reports.
Analysis: Rice has been improving from his ailment, but he did see his participation limited to 45 minutes in the last game versus Norway. The midfielder is a key all-around contributor for his national team, making his status a major concern ahead of the final couple of contests. He has been replaced by Eberechi Eze when England need to focus on attacking, but Kobbie Mainoo is also available as a more defensive-minded alternative in case Rice is not ready for meaningful workload.
Struggles in 45-minute appearance
Rice had three crosses (one accurate) and two corners in Saturday's 2-1 victory against Norway.
Analysis: Rice was healthy enough to start after recovering from illness and injury, and he took set pieces during his time on the pitch, but he was replaced by Eberechi Eze for the second half against Norway. The defensive midfielder has slowed down after a strong group stage, with his average dropping from 5.0 chances created per game in the first two matches to just 1.0 over three playoff rounds. He's still highly valuable for passes and corner kicks if he stays in the lineup, looking to bounce back in the final couple of World Cup contests.
Starting quarter final
Rice (illness) is starting Saturday's clash with Norway.
Analysis: Rice was expected to recover from his illness in time to get the start Saturday and did just that. The midfielder is back in the starting XI and should be a key part of England's midfield throughout the match. Rice has started every match in the World Cup except a matchday three clash with Panama after the group was already decided.
Returns to training Friday
Rice (illness) took part in training Friday and should be available for Saturday's quarterfinal showdown against Norway, Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Rice missed training Wednesday and Thursday, but he was able to participate with the rest of his teammates Friday, meaning he should be an option for the weekend. If Rice is deemed healthy by the coaching staff, and the latest reports seem to indicate he's trending in the right direction, he should remain in the starting lineup as a holding midfielder next to Elliot Anderson in Thomas Tuchel's 4-2-3-1 tactic.
Still not training, dealt illness
Rice was not in training for a second consecutive day due to an illness, according to Sami Mokbel of the BBC.
Analysis: Rice was once again left out of training as the midfielder recovers from some lingering problems. The midfielder was dealing with a neural issue and is now confirmed to have an illness, making his symptoms worse. It appears this could be a concern, but with another day until their match, he does have time to recover, and the main focus remains on keeping the other players away from the illness, possibly the reason he is missing out. He should still be considered a starter for the team heading into Saturday, although that could quickly change if improvement doesn't come soon.
Misses training, still an option
Rice was not training Wednesday as he does recovery work on a lower back injury, but is expected to still play against Norway on Saturday, according to John Cross of the Mirror.
Analysis: Rice is still dealing with a bit of pain in his back, a persistent issue this World Cup. That has led the midfielder to take training easy and do some recovery work instead of joining the team for training, although this is unlikely to force him to miss time. He should then return to his starting role when facing Norway on Saturday, a major part of the team they cannot do without, as he serves as their anchor in the middle of the pitch.
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