Arsenal Midfielder Declan Rice Notes Fatigue Amidst Demanding Schedule

Arsenal's Declan Rice has acknowledged feeling "shattered" due to the relentless schedule, a sentiment he shared with TNT Sports following the club's Champions League win against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. This admission follows fan observations at Wembley Stadium, where video captured Rice appearing to struggle while descending stairs after Arsenal's Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City. The 27-year-old midfielder has accumulated the third-highest minutes among Arsenal's outfield players this season, starting 38 matches across all competitions. His workload has been particularly heavy, with six appearances in March alone, even after requesting to be substituted in the 76th minute during a 2-1 victory over Chelsea on March 1. Rice commented on the continuous nature of their schedule, stating, "It's non-stop," and noting the consistent three-day intervals between matches since October. Despite the physical challenge, he emphasized the team's ability to secure wins.