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Arsenal pair Declan Rice and William Saliba have both disclosed troubling long-term physical issues that have carried over from the Premier League into the 2026 World Cup, with Rice speaking out against the "obscene" volume of fixtures on the schedule for players at elite clubs.
The central midfielder, who featured in 55 games for the Gunners last season, was a key figure in Mikel Arteta's Premier League title-winning side, which also reached the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals. Rice missed just one match through injury during the 2025–26 campaign, though he could easily have been absent for far more.
"I was dealing with some neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for quite a long time," he told ITV Sport. "Obviously, not many people would have been aware of that. It was all handled behind the scenes, but it was a sensible call."
Rice moved straight from a demanding season with Arsenal into representing England in North America this summer. Yet despite minimal rest and his persistent hamstring complaint, he insisted he is "ready and fit, raring to go" for his nation. Thomas Tuchel has been carefully managing his workload, withdrawing the 27-year-old from the Three Lions' World Cup opener after 72 minutes.
"In the end, that final 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most knocks, and it's where a 70-minute match really takes its toll. But those last 20 minutes are where you truly feel your body being pushed to its limits. I think it was a wise call because over the last few days I've felt really, really good."
Saliba Shares Similar Issues From Arsenal's Taxing Season
Saliba, who is also managing a long-standing physical complaint, is not as fortunate as Rice. The defender admitted he is not fully fit heading into the 2026 World Cup, yet is pushing through the discomfort as France chases a third World Cup crown.
"I've had some minor niggles for several months," Saliba said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Les Bleus' fixture against Iraq. The comments follow reports suggesting he may require back surgery after this summer's tournament concludes.
"I've been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are managing it very well," he continued.
"The World Cup only comes around once every four years, so you have to grit your teeth. I'm not at 100%, but there are plenty of players who aren't at 100% either ... you can't make excuses."
Saliba is coming off a third straight season in which he made at least 50 appearances for Arsenal. The 25-year-old then went directly into the France setup and played the full 90 minutes in the team's 3–1 win over Senegal in their World Cup opener.
Rice Blasts Chaotic Match Schedule Contributing to Injuries
Over the past two seasons, a growing number of players are suffering long-term injuries after accumulating enormous minutes for club and country with little opportunity to rest and recover. Rice, for instance, played 63 matches last season across Arsenal and England duties, and could add another eight this summer should the Three Lions reach the World Cup final.
That total would have been even greater, as it has been for certain Paris Saint-Germain players, had the Gunners been involved in the Club World Cup last summer.
"It's an obscene amount of games," Rice said. "The schedule was crazy but what can we do about it? You can't just sit and complain. We have to get on with it for moments like the one I had in the Premier League, winning that title.
"You know you'd play as many games as it takes to experience that feeling again, and knowing there's a World Cup waiting at the end of it too. You'd put your body on the line to always be available to play. It's a lot of games, but we'll get our break when it's all over."
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Yet the "break" in question is barely worth the name. Rice will have less than a month between a potential World Cup final with England and Arsenal's Community Shield clash against Manchester City on Aug. 16.
One measure being introduced to ease the load on players is merging the September and October international breaks next season, but widespread concern remains over relentless fixture schedules forcing the game's finest talents to perform below their best due to exhaustion and persistent injuries.