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Arsenal’s Declan Rice allayed injury fears ahead of MLS All-Stars clash
Arsenal’s record signing Declan Rice has allayed fears that he has picked up an injury during the club’s pre-season tour of America.
The 24-year-old, who joined the Gunners from West Ham for a British transfer record fee of £105 million, was seen training alone on a bike on Monday, sparking concerns that he may have been injured in one of his first few sessions with his new team.
However, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Rice is in good health and is simply being managed carefully following a hectic week.
“We just want to manage him,” said Arteta. “A lot has happened to him in the last five or six days. He had a very hectic schedule. He’s had a few training sessions which were really good.
“But prior to that, he didn’t do a lot before he joined us so we wanted to just manage him. He trained today with us, he was in good form, and yeah, he’s fine.”
Rice is expected to be involved in Arsenal’s midweek clash with the MLS All-Stars, although Arteta may decide to give him a slightly reduced role as he continues to build up his fitness.
The Gunners are hoping that Rice can help them to challenge for the Premier League title this season, and his presence in the middle of the park will be a major boost to their chances.
With Thomas Partey still recovering from a long-term injury, Rice is likely to be a key player for Arsenal in the coming months.
