Arteta defends Rice fitness after Prague win
The Arsenal manager says his midfielder had a full week to recover before facing Liverpool, despite visible fatigue in the second half.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
Arsenal fans watching from home will see Declan Rice face Liverpool again this weekend. The midfielder played a full 90 minutes in a 2-1 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague on Wednesday night. He showed visible signs of exhaustion in the final 45 minutes.
Manager Mikel Arteta addressed the concern directly. He stated that the match against Slavia Prague required Rice's presence for the entire duration. The 27-year-old had a full week of recovery time after playing against Fleetwood Town. Arteta noted that this was only Rice's second match in seven days, not a fifth consecutive fixture.
"The game required it, and he did," Arteta said. "He was as well rested against Fleetwood so he had a very good week to recover before Liverpool. It's his second game in a week and not the fifth one. We expect our players to be able to do that and I think he had some very good moments throughout the game."
Arsenal took an early lead in the first half. Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres scored to put the visitors ahead 2-0. The team struggled to maintain control in the second period. Slavia Prague scored a late equalizer in the 90th minute through Wiktor Nowak, though Arsenal held on for the win.
Karen Carney, a former midfielder for Arsenal and England, voiced worries about Rice's condition. She told TNT Sports that Arsenal becomes a different team when Rice is tired. "In the second half he looked absolutely exhausted and then that's, for me, when Arsenal are a different team and they kind of lose their way a little bit," Carney said. She added that his energy levels are a key factor in the team's structure.
Steve McManaman, another TNT Sports pundit, pointed to a lack of attacking depth. He observed that Arsenal relies heavily on midfielders filling forward roles. "You've got Declan on, you've got Zubimendi on, you've got Merino on, you've got Odegaard on, yet they were still just running all over and losing the ball," McManaman said. He concluded that securing three points in Prague after a difficult match against Liverpool is the primary goal for the team.
Arsenal will host Hull City on Saturday. The result against Slavia Prague gives them three points in the Champions League group stage. Rice will be available for selection after his full week of rest since the League Cup match.
