Arsenal must navigate the challenge of protecting Declan Rice during their Premier League title defense after a grueling 69-game season for club and country. Rice played 5,482 minutes last year, second only to two other players in Europe's top five leagues. Mikel Arteta admitted the midfielder's workload is immense but believes Rice can handle it, citing his durability record of just 14 missed games since 2018.

However, Rice revealed he's managing nerve pain in his hamstring and was physically 'done' after the World Cup. The Gunners have bolstered midfield with Bruno Guimarães (£75m from Newcastle) and Myles Lewis-Skelly, giving Arteta more rotation options. Rice's conditioning work during his post-World Cup break impressed staff, but questions remain about sustainability.

Arteta hopes to reduce reliance on volume in favor of quality, though Rice himself embraces his high-minute lifestyle. The arrival of Guimarães and improved midfield depth should help distribute the load more evenly across the squad.