Declan Rice: Few could compete with Arsenal’s injuries | OneFootball

Declan Rice believes that the absence of key players has cost Arsenal dearly and insists availability must be a priority next season.

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Declan Rice says the key to turning Arsenal’s promise into trophies lies in having a fully fit squad. Speaking before Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, which, ironically, he missed through a suspected hamstring injury, the 26-year-old midfielder laid bare the frustration felt within the camp.

“If you take your best four or five players out of any team in the world and still try to compete, be in the semi-final of the Champions League, be second in the Premier League, not a lot of teams would be able to do it,” Rice said.

“We’ve really had to put that to the side and go out there as a group, whoever’s been fit, and try and deliver the best we can. And we have really really maximised ourselves in terms of the players we’ve had available.”

With Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber and now Rice himself among the regulars sidelined at some point, Arsenal have found themselves short-handed during the most critical stretch of the season.

The draw at Anfield saw Arsenal recover from a 2-0 half-time deficit through goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino, before losing Merino to a red card. The point helped maintain their advantage in the race for a top-five finish but did little to ease the sense of what might have been.

Reflecting on another near miss, Rice pointed to the contrast with clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool.

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“That’s how the Man Citys, the Liverpools have been able to compete,” he said. “They’ve had their best players available. They’ve had amazing players in every position. They’re able to push each other to make it competitive.

“For us, next season, I think we need to make sure that we’re all way more available as a group and that we can have our strongest 11 out there to compete at all times.”

Despite the setback, Rice remains convinced Arsenal are on the right path. “We’re not going to let our heads drop,” he said. “We’re going to keep trying to deliver for the fans and for ourselves.”

With just two matches left and Champions League qualification nearly assured, attention now turns to finishing the season in second place.