Declan Rice raring to go after long awaited summer break – and sets big targets for next season

Declan Rice says he feels “really good” after finally enjoying a proper break from football.

The Arsenal and England midfielder had just 16 days off after the Euros last summer, but has enjoyed a longer break this time around and says he feels refreshed.

“I had a really good break,” said Rice. “The first time in a long time that I’m getting a full pre-season and I actually got a month off. After the Euros final I got like 16 days so to actually get a month off was really nice.

“You start to get itchy feet towards the end of it and you want to get back into it. I’m feeling really good and to be fair the humidity helps get the fitness up so I’m really enjoying it.”

With the World Cup final in July 2026 looming, Rice knows it could be a full year of relentless football from here onwards.

“It’s our job. It’s what we do and we do love it,” he said. “The World Cup is the biggest tournament in the world. Everyone wants to play in it. I think that would be pretty special and no-one would be complaining.”

The Gunners midfielder, who featured in Arsenal’s pre-season win over AC Milan, enjoyed his best goalscoring season last term but says he is targeting an even bigger campaign this time around.

“More goals, more assists, and impact the games more. Not just do it at the back end of the season, do it in a full season and set myself some numbers,” he said. “The best players in the world do that and the manager is certainly on me to do that as well.”

Rice also revealed that the summer signings of fellow midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard will mean he no longer needs to anchor the defence.

He said: “I think the manager now sees me as a box-to-box player and at the back end of last season, off the back of Christmas, I showed fully what I can do in that position, and I really kicked on.”