Arteta defends Rice workload as five Arsenal players earn England call-ups

Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal's handling of Declan Rice's workload after the midfielder was recalled to the England squad, saying the club are giving him more protection than in previous seasons. According to the Guardian, the Arsenal manager rejected suggestions that Rice has been playing too much.

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Rice was among five Arsenal players selected by Thomas Tuchel on Friday, having withdrawn from England's squad in September. The Guardian reported that he showed signs of fatigue during the second half of Wednesday's Champions League victory over Slavia Prague. The 27-year-old had also been affected by longstanding back and hamstring problems during the World Cup.

Arteta pointed to Rice's absence from Arsenal's squads for two Carabao Cup matches as evidence of the rest he has been given. The manager said the midfielder had stayed at home with two days off. Rice was rested for the cup defeat by Fleetwood, although he has appeared in every Premier League and Champions League game this season.

The manager also cited the way Arsenal have managed Rice's training and supported him within the club. Arteta maintained that the demands placed on the midfielder reflected the expectations at Arsenal, adding that other players had received even less time off. He urged his players to concentrate on their responsibilities rather than allow concerns about workload to distract them.

England's latest selection also brought a recall for Ben White, his first inclusion since before the World Cup. Rice and White were joined by Arsenal colleagues Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Eberechi Eze. Together, the five players account for a fifth of Tuchel's squad, giving Arsenal a sizeable presence in the national team's latest group.

Arteta said an English core was important to him, particularly when players also had an established connection to Arsenal. He noted that some recruits had supported the club since childhood and said that attachment carried a special significance. While acknowledging that players could develop the same allegiance after joining, he argued that an existing bond with Arsenal made that relationship more powerful.