Quality over quantity – Arteta discusses Rice workload

In the aftermath of Wednesday’s win in Naples, Declan Rice told reporters he is confident he can handle another season of 60-plus appearances for Arsenal and England. The more pressing question is whether he should have to.

No outfield player featured more often for the Gunners last season than Rice, whose near-constant presence in a team challenging for trophies on four fronts eventually took a physical toll. By the time he reported for World Cup duty, the England international was suffering from nerve pain in his hamstring and had to have his minutes carefully managed. Well, sort of. He was still asked to play the entirety of the meaningless third-place play-off.

Mikel Arteta welcomed Rice’s decision to return early from his summer holiday and throw himself into Arsenal’s pre-season preparations. His enthusiasm is admirable, and he has been fit enough to start each of the club’s opening five games. Even so, there is a growing sense that the 27-year-old, like several of his teammates, may occasionally need protecting from himself over the coming months.

Speaking at his pre-Sunderland press conference, Arteta said: “Yes, obviously we are very aware of the load, and it’s not just physical load; it’s the cognitive load as well of every player.

“And that’s why every player has an individual plan, and that we manage not only with the minutes that we play but also with the amount of meetings and travel and the demands that we put in certain positions that require more information. We need to be very much aware of that.

“Let’s see the amount of options that we have as well to make the right choices. Hopefully, we have [those], and if that’s the case, obviously I think the decisions will be better.”

Asked whether Rice has the capacity to play week in, week out for another 10 months, Arteta suggested availability is only part of the equation. The priority is ensuring the midfielder can perform at his highest level when Arsenal need him most.

“Ready? I think he can be ready. I think it’s the quality of those minutes, of those games and the need that the team should have to do that.

“I think we need to be very smart to understand and to try to get the best out of him, but especially the quality that we need in the minutes that he plays.”

Arsenal have at least constructed a midfield with far greater scope for rotation than in previous seasons.

So far, Rice has operated a little deeper than he did last term. Arteta hinted that the adjustment is designed to get the best out of a greater range of midfield partners, including Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and new signing Bruno Guimaraes.

“He continues to cover the miles, but in a different role. It’s just to create the right synergies in and around the team and to put his qualities to the service of the team, especially in the way the opponents are behaving against us, which I think is really important.

“And Declan can do it. You put him in a different role, he will do it. But at the moment, he feels really comfortable doing what he’s doing.

“He’s played with different partners in midfield and will continue to adapt his game in relation to the needs of the team.”

Those additional options should make it easier for Arteta to protect Rice without significantly weakening the side. A deeper role does not necessarily mean a lighter workload, however, especially when, by the manager’s own admission, he continues to cover the miles.

Of course, squad depth is only part of the equation. Arsenal have also reshaped their medical and strength and conditioning teams this summer, bringing in a host of new faces behind the scenes. The overhaul suggests the manager is fully conscious of the injury issues that left previous squads stretched until they were threadbare.

Whether it makes a meaningful difference will become clearer as the season unfolds, but Arteta must recognise that just because a player is willing to run himself into the ground doesn’t mean he should be allowed to.

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