Declan Rice is running out of steam, leaving Tuchel a midfield conundrum

England mainstay is flagging after six years of nonstop action, but finding a solution to his absence is no easy task

A freak of nature is Aaron Cresswell’s description of Declan Rice. The former West Ham left-back marvels at Rice’s ability to keep going. “He can play six or seven games a week,” Cresswell says of his old West Ham teammate. “God knows how many he’s played in the last few years.”

The answer is 360 since the start of the 2020-21 season. The schedule has been relentless for the England midfielder. He was vital for West Ham when they had deep European runs in 2022 and 2023, was a mainstay for Gareth Southgate’s England and has been no less influential for Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League endeavours since joining them three years ago.

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