Mikel Arteta reveals Declan Rice injury update after Arsenal beat Wolves

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Evening Standard

·18 de agosto de 2024

Mikel Arteta reveals Declan Rice injury update after Arsenal beat Wolves

Midfielder forced off during closing stages of 2-0 victory

Mikel Arteta has confirmed Declan Rice is fine after he limped out of Arsenal’s opening day win over Wolves.

Vídeos OneFootball

There had been fears the midfielder, who had a shortened off-season after helping England reach the final of Euro 2024, had picked up an injury.

But asked to give an update on Rice after game, Arteta said: “Yeah, he was cramping.

“He hasn’t had the longest pre-season ever. But he was really trying and he put an unbelievable performance again. At the end he was struggling a bit.”

Rice and his fellow England star Bukayo Saka started the game at Emirates Stadium despite only playing in the final of Euro 2024 just 37 days ago.

“I’m not surprised,” said Arteta. “That was their mentality straight away after the last game they said: ‘I’m gonna be ready for the first game’.

“I spoke to them after the summer, and tried to arrange a plan. They wanted to come back and be here early.

“They were already getting prepared when they were on holidays. This is the mentality that we need. If players are doing that compromise it will grow around the team and they will step up the level. That’s what we need.”

Saka was the star performer for Arsenal, setting up the opening goal before smashing home the second with just over 15 minutes to go.

It was a trademark finish from the winger, who cut in from right flank before firing the ball past Jose Sa.

“With good players it’s like that,” he said. “With [Lionel] Messi I know he’s gonna come here and put the ball there, but he does it all the time. You can’t stop him. That’s the quality of the players.”