Arsenal receive major injury boost ahead of Fulham clash | OneFootball

Arsenal Receive Timely Declan Rice Boost Ahead of England Duty

Arsenal supporters braced for bad news over the weekend after Declan Rice left the field with a back problem during the 2-0 victory over West Ham. Now there is relief rather than panic across both club and country.

Rice Fitness Concerns Quelled Quickly

The midfielder had opened the scoring against his former side before signalling to the bench in the 79th minute. Mikel Arteta reacted immediately, replacing him with Mikel Merino and offering little reassurance post match.

“He’s not all right because he asked me to come off, so that’s a shame,” Arteta said. “He had a pain in his back and he could not carry on which is something very unusual for Declan so we’ll have to assess him and see how he is.”

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Those comments sparked concern given Rice’s reputation for durability. However, medical checks on Sunday delivered encouraging results. Rather than remaining at London Colney for treatment, he travelled to St George’s Park to link up with the England squad as planned. By Monday afternoon he was involved in training on the indoor pitches alongside all 24 members of the group.

Arsenal Schedule Highlights Need for Key Players

The timing could not be more important for Arsenal. After the international break they resume with a London derby away to Fulham on Saturday 18 October before facing Atletico Madrid and Crystal Palace within the space of seven days. With fixtures stacking up across competitions Arteta will be counting on Rice to anchor midfield battles and maintain rhythm in transitions.

England Also Benefit from Positive Update

England staff will likewise be relieved. Rice’s leadership has become a fixture in Gareth Southgate’s setup and his presence in recovery sessions suggests no enforced reshuffle is necessary. With tournament planning already underway continuity is valuable. Rice does not just provide defensive assurance, he drives tempo and maintains standards both in possession and off the ball.

Valuable Reminder of Rice’s Influence

Injury scares often reinforce how central certain figures have become. Arsenal built last season’s improvements around Rice’s intelligence and consistency. England lean on the same qualities. His decision to withdraw against West Ham showed responsibility rather than vulnerability. Listening to his body for one afternoon has ensured availability for many more.

For now both Arsenal and England can move forward with renewed confidence. Rice looks ready to resume his usual role as midfield metronome, avoiding what briefly threatened to become a disruptive setback.