Mikel Arteta has explained how Declan Rice had ‘no chance’ of playing for Arsenal against Sporting CP on Tuesday, but he somehow managed to play 94 minutes.
Rice missed training ahead of Sporting on Tuesday afternoon, and it looked as though the midfielder would not be able to feature.
Who was your Man of the Match vs Sporting CP?
However, Arsenal made the call to name Rice in the squad, and he ended up playing the entire Champions League quarter-final against Sporting.
The Gunners reached the Champions League semi-final and Rice certainly played his part, but it does not bode too well for Sunday’s clash against Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta reveals Declan Rice’s remarkable recovery
Mikel Arteta has explained how Declan Rice showed remarkable recovery to be fit for Arsenal’s goalless draw with Sporting CP.
The 27-year-old was said to have ‘no chance’ of playing against Sporting on Tuesday as he was ‘shattered’.
But instead of missing the game, he managed to complete the full 90 minutes, showing his desire to help the team.
Speaking to the media, Arteta told Sam Dean: “Declan, yesterday, he was shattered, he had no chance to play today. But he played 94 minutes.”
The Gunners could not afford many more injuries, having already been without Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori.
Arsenal need Saka back desperately, after Noni Madueke went down with a knee injury, leaving Max Dowman as their only right winger.
On Madueke, Arteta said: “I don’t know, it was something in his knee, so we had to take him off.”
Simple question: How do Arsenal win the Champions League from here?
Through to the semi-finals, but the performance was not good enough…
But all eyes will be on Rice, as if he was shattered after the weekend, it will be worrying to see what state he is in to face City.
Arsenal’s midfield will simply not cope without Rice, and he will need to show superhuman levels once again to be fit in time.
Rice was named Arsenal captain once again tonight and Arteta explained how it was the squad who picked him ahead of Gabriel Magalhaes.
“The players decided that Declan Rice would be captain in the last two matches. They made this decision because I believe Declan deserved this role, in the way he takes responsibility in the tough moments,” said Arteta.
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