Arsenal fans are not holding back with a clear message for Mikel Arteta amid Declan Rice’s injury woes.
Rice was not involved in Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool due to injury and was sorely missed in midfield at Anfield.
Thomas Partey had a disaster against Liverpool, as fans noticed how derailed the Gunners’ engine room became without the 26-year-old included.
After Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool, it was revealed that Rice is nursing a hamstring strain, prompting fans to give clear instructions to Arteta regarding what to do next.
Arsenal fans know what Mikel Arteta should do with Declan Rice
Rice is a contender for Arsenal player of the season in Ian Wright’s eyes, and plenty would agree with the Gunners legend.
The £105m signing has performed at a consistently high level to make his price tag look incredibly insignificant, as his importance to Arteta’s project becomes more and more prominent.
Amid the news regarding Rice’s hamstring issue, fans urged Arteta to give his star player an early holiday, prompting the boss to pull the plug on the England international’s season.
“Shut him down for the season, man. He’s a player I always worry about due to the volume of games he’s played. At least 50 club games 4 seasons in a row. Let him rest.”
Another fan replied, “Yeah, no need for him to play vs Newcastle or the Saints.”
Arsenal supporters flooded around the breaking news on X, all relaying the same message to Arteta.
“Let him go on holiday now, low the risk,” one said, as another echoed the opinion, “He should not play again this season abeg.”
The Gunners have two games of the 2024/25 calendar remaining, a must-win clash with Newcastle United in the battle for second place, and an end-of-season trip to the South Coast to face Southampton.
Fans appear to see no need for Arteta to risk Rice, begging the manager to give the Englishman the rest of the season off.
“Can you blame Rice’s hammy? He’s been our best player this season. Give him the rest of the season off.”
“Just don’t play him for the final 2 fixtures. I don’t want to add another Hamstring surgery photo to the gallery.”
The news about Rice then translated to another player, as Arsenal fans made the same argument about Jurrien Timber’s fitness.
“No need to play him or Timber. Only need a point to qualify for CL. Let them rest they have earned it,” a supporter said.
Fans were quick to appreciate the individual campaigns of Rice and Timber, stressing that the duo ‘deserve’ an extended time off.
“I would have no issues with giving Rice and Timber an early summer. They’ve put some serious work in this season.”
“Rest him and Timber next Sunday and see how we do against Newcastle without them, if we do poorly, bring them back on the team, otherwise, happy to send them to early holidays. They deserve it the most.”
Aggravation of Rice’s hamstring injury could be catastrophic for Arsenal
The 2024/25 season has been terrible for Arsenal on the injury front, particularly in the hamstring department.
Gabriel Magalhaes was the latest to undergo hamstring surgery, following Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka on the treatment table.
Arteta has seen first-hand the devastation a hamstring tear can cause to his players and his squad collectively, emphasising the need for Rice to be rested.
Gabriel won’t return until after pre-season, and if Rice were to aggravate his hamstring before the end of the campaign, the Gunners could be forced to start 2025/26 without their star player.
Such would be a worst-case scenario for Arsenal and the England international, who at this point in the season could be rested without repercussions.
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