Rice ready to play up to 60 games per season for Arsenal

There has been considerable debate about the number of games elite players are required to play during each campaign, particularly as their teams compete for success across multiple competitions.

Arsenal are among the clubs that faced an extremely demanding schedule last season, reaching the finals of the Champions League and Carabao Cup while also completing a full 38-game Premier League campaign. Their involvement across several competitions meant they finished the season having played more than 60 matches.

Rice embraces demanding schedule

Teams need significant squad depth to cope with such a demanding schedule, but some players remain virtually ever-present regardless of the number of games being played. One of those players at Arsenal is Declan Rice, who has established himself as one of the most important members of the squad.

Rice has become so important to the team that he has sometimes had to play through pain, even taking injections to ensure he can feature in important matches. His ability to remain available has made him a key figure for Arsenal, particularly during periods when the fixture list becomes increasingly congested.

The England international also regularly represents his country, adding further matches to an already demanding schedule. Despite the workload, Rice believes he is capable of continuing to play such a high number of games every season.

(Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)

Rice confident of maintaining level

Rice explained that playing more than 60 matches in a campaign has become normal for him, dating back to his time at West Ham when the club was also competing in Europe. He believes his record proves that the workload is sustainable, provided he can maintain his standards and consistency.

Rice said via Hayters:

“For the last six seasons, even since my West Ham days when it was in Europe, I’ve played 60-plus every season.

“So I think it is sustainable because I’ve shown that I can do it. It’s just about maintaining it, maintaining the level and the consistency of the performances.

“For me, that’s the main thing, showing up every week, giving a good account of myself and helping the team win. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to do that. So I’m really hungry to be able to do that again this season.”

With another demanding campaign ahead, Rice appears determined to maintain his availability and continue contributing at a consistently high level. His willingness to embrace the workload could once again make him a crucial player for Arsenal throughout the season.

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