Mikel Arteta outlines a fresh plan for Declan Rice following notable absences in Arsenal’s lineup.

Mikel Arteta has clarified the reduced game time for Declan Rice, emphasizing the need to carefully manage the midfielder’s workload.

Rice featured for the full 90 minutes in 13 of Arsenal’s first 20 Premier League and Champions League games. However, since the draw against Fulham on December 8, he has been frequently substituted. He played 64 minutes against Monaco, 62 in the Everton draw, and was taken off after 87 minutes against Ipswich. Additionally, he came off the bench for the final 32 minutes in Arsenal’s dominant win over Crystal Palace and played just 12 minutes in the New Year’s Day victory over Brentford.

Arteta explained that the decision stems from managing Rice’s physical demands during a packed schedule. “He plays a lot of football,” Arteta said. “We have nine games this month, and he’s had some niggles recently. We need to manage every player, and Declan is no exception.”

Arsenal, currently second in the Premier League, are competing on four fronts, with crucial fixtures on the horizon, including a Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle and an FA Cup tie with Manchester United. Despite Rice’s importance, Arteta plans to rotate his squad, particularly with Mikel Merino nearing full fitness.

Signed in the summer, Merino has had limited starts due to injuries and a lack of pre-season but is now showing his qualities. “He’s integrating well, offering intelligence, leadership, and goal threat,” Arteta noted. “As he grows into his role, we’ll see even more from him.”

Meanwhile, Kai Havertz will return for the Brighton game after recovering from illness, though Jurrien Timber will miss out due to suspension after accumulating five yell

ow cards.