Declan Rice wants to return to Arsenal early with concerns about injury eased.

Declan Rice is determined to return to Arsenal training quickly after his participation in the World Cup, where he captained the England team and scored a crucial goal in the third-place playoff against France on July 18. The midfielder is currently on holiday after receiving three weeks of mandatory rest, but he is expected to return to London on August 10.

Despite some suggestions that Rice may need more recovery time, the 27-year-old has been in contact with Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, expressing his desire to return to training. Rice has been dealing with nerve pain in his thigh since Christmas and has also faced issues with his calf, a virus, and fatigue during the competition. England's manager, Thomas Tuchel, had previously mentioned that Rice was playing with “unbearable discomfort.”

Arteta revealed that Rice's attitude is encouraging: “When I talk to Declan Rice, he already says, 'Okay, if I come back on this day, I can play then.'” This determination from the player is seen as a positive sign, as the team is adapting to each player's context. Rice is part of the third group of Arsenal players who will begin pre-season training next month, joining fellow national team members such as Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke, as well as Spanish players like Martin Zubimendi and David Raya.

However, Rice will not be present for Arsenal's first official pre-season match against Girona, nor for the meeting next week against Real Betis in Dublin. Nevertheless, his eagerness to return to training quickly suggests that he is focused on being available for the Emirates Cup match against Borussia Dortmund on August 9, followed by the home game against Como, Cesc Fabregas' team, three days later. If Rice can integrate well into training, he could be a valuable addition to the team in those matches.