“Refreshed” Rice happy with Arsenal’s early momentum

Declan Rice says the fitness issues that hampered him at the World Cup have been eased by a three-week holiday over the summer, helping him start the new season in “really good form”.

At the end of a 55-game club campaign that concluded with Champions League heartbreak in Budapest, the England international reported for international duty with nerve pain in a sore hamstring. He sat out one group-stage game against Panama and only completed the first half of the quarter-final win over Norway, although he recovered sufficiently to start both the semi-final and third-place play-off for Thomas Tuchel.

There were understandable concerns that a swift return to pre-season training after a truncated break might exacerbate the issue, but Rice insists it is a case of so far, so good.

“In the summer, I took three complete weeks off, I didn’t do anything,” he told Sky Sports after Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Napoli.

“I let it really rest, let it settle it down. I have come back refreshed, really ready and ready to go again. I feel really good at the minute, in really good form. Long may it continue.”

It is certainly a stark contrast to his experience following previous international tournaments.

Rice admitted last year that he was slow out of the blocks at the start of the 2024/25 season as he struggled with the aftermath of England’s Euro final defeat to Spain.

“At the start of the {2024/25] season last year, I was nowhere near the level I require of myself.

“I put it down to a few things. The back of the Euros final was mentally really tough.

“Having 16 days off and going straight back into a Premier League season was really, really hard. It took me a few months to get going again.”

In Naples, Rice carried himself like a centurion, happily crushing the spirit of the locals with his domination of the middle of the park.

The conditions were difficult, particularly for a man partial to wearing his sweat on his brow, but he set the tempo for an impressive Arsenal performance.

“That’s probably the hottest game I’ve played in for Arsenal so far,” he told the club website.

“It’s actually like how it was at the World Cup – humid, the pitch was dry, heavy as well, so it makes it tougher, but to still play the way we did and perform the way we did, everyone looked really strong and really fit.”

The Gunners had 26 efforts on goal, the most they have ever recorded in an away Champions League fixture, but had to wait until the 75th minute to break the deadlock. Martin Odegaard did the damage, lashing the ball in off the post from the edge of the box to secure a winning start in Europe.

“When a player like that is fit and has that quality to play, he can shine in any team and for us he’s so important,” Rice said of his captain.

“For him to score three goals in the season so far, it’s massive for him but also unreal for us, because when he’s at the top of his game he makes us a better team. So let’s keep making him feel confident, giving him the ball and letting him do what he does best.”

After returning from Italy, Arsenal face three more away games in quick succession before the extended Interlull. Trips to Sunderland and Brighton in the Premier League look particularly tricky, but Rice says the Gunners will head to the Stadium of Light on Saturday in a good place.

“Momentum is key. Football is really good when you’re winning matches, there’s no better feeling,” he said.

“Let’s keep momentum going, keep doing everything right, and just keep pushing. It’s still so early in the season, and to have that momentum and keep winning games is key for us, we want to keep doing it.”

The post “Refreshed” Rice happy with Arsenal’s early momentum appeared first on Arseblog News - the Arsenal news site.