Arsenal fans make it clear there’s one change Mikel Arteta now has to make vs Club Brugge

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Mikel Arteta simply has to rotate his Arsenal squad when the Gunners travel to Bruges to face Club Brugge.

The Champions League returns, but Arsenal face a contrasting test to their previous match in the competition.

After beating Bayern Munich 3-1 at the Emirates, the Gunners prepare to face Club Brugge, who have just sacked their manager due to their poor form.

Club Brugge have been armed with a possible new manager bounce, but even with the phenomenon in mind, Arteta has to resist the temptation to start a full-strength XI.

Arsenal fans are desperate for Declan Rice to be rested against Club Brugge

Some young players could be involved against Club Brugge, which would be a welcome sight for Arsenal fans.

On social media, supporters have grouped together to compose the same message to the Arsenal manager, pleading for Declan Rice to be rested.

Rice didn’t feature in training, which is a positive as much as it is a concern, as the midfielder is so crucial to the Arsenal squad.

“This guy isn’t supposed to touch a football until after the next two games,” one fan said about Rice.

How should Mikel Arteta manage Declan Rice’s minutes at Arsenal?

Declan Rice has played more minutes at Arsenal this season than any other outfield player

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Another agreed, “Don’t wanna see Rice again until Everton,” meaning that the 26-year-old should be omitted from the squad to face Club Brugge and then Wolves.

It was an opinion shared by several fans, “Rice shouldn’t play v wolves either if we being real. He is one player that cannot be replaced in this team.”

Rice has been playing so much football due to the bustling schedule, which is why Arsenal fans are concerned about his workload.

“Rice looks absolutely run into the ground. Arteta needs to protect him from himself, take him nowhere near the squad, let the body reset,” a supporter wrote on X.

Another went as far as to say that Arteta ‘should be sacked’ if he includes Rice in his plans for the trip to Bruges.

“If Arteta plays him at against Club Brugge, he should be sacked .. the whole team is tired.”

For others, even the bench isn’t enough, “Hope he isn’t even in the squad tbh. We need him to rest, and surely we have enough quality to win without having him waste his energy on a non-crucial CL game.”

Mikel Arteta now has an opportunity at Arsenal that he won’t have for the rest of the season

Rotation is needed, not only regarding Rice, but the whole favoured XI.

Fortunately, Arteta has the perfect opportunity to give his first-team regulars a sufficient period of rest.

Arsenal have already qualified for the Round of 16, so while a win is desired, it’s not essential.

Added to that, the Gunners host Wolves on Saturday night, a clash between first and 20th in the table.

With respect to Wolves, it gives Arteta another chance to rotate, something that, given the twists and turns the season will produce, is unlikely to come around again.

All eyes will be on whether the boss takes the opportunity to give his favourites a well-earned rest, with fans desperate to see some lesser-seen faces.