Declan Rice has moved quickly to calm Arsenal injury fears after being pictured with an ice pack on his hamstring following England’s 2-1 World Cup knockout win over DR Congo.
According to The Sun, the Arsenal midfielder was seen treating his left hamstring at full-time in Atlanta after completing 90 minutes before being replaced by John Stones in stoppage time.
Rice had already missed England’s final group-stage match against Panama as a precaution, making this a situation Mikel Arteta’s staff will be tracking carefully.
The 27-year-old, however, insisted the immediate concern should not be overstated. Rice told BBC Radio 5 Live he felt “good as gold”, with his fatigue linked to the demanding conditions rather than a fresh tear.
The wider match context was chaotic too, with AP reporting that Harry Kane’s late double rescued England after Brian Cipenga had given DR Congo a shock early lead.
Arsenal Will Watch The Mexico Build-Up Closely
For Arsenal, the key issue is not panic, but workload. Rice has already spoken this summer about managing physical problems through a heavy club-and-country calendar, an issue Read Arsenal covered in his World Cup fitness warning.
England now move on to face Mexico at the Azteca, with The Guardian noting the pressure around Thomas Tuchel’s side after another uneven knockout display.
If Rice trains normally, the scare should fade. If his minutes are managed again, Arsenal’s pre-season planning gets another sharp edge.
