Declan Rice is worn out – it’s time for Mikel Arteta to heed warning signs and give exhausted midfielder a rest, writes ISAAN KHAN

Writer Isaan Khan argues that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta must heed warning signs and rest an exhausted Declan Rice before he reaches breaking point. Despite setting up Bruno Guimaraes's decisive goal against Leeds United following Riccardo Calafiori's earlier strike, Rice reportedly struggled with sluggishness, errant passing, and physical fatigue during the match.

Khan highlights that Rice played 4,454 minutes across 55 club appearances last season after managing neural hamstring pain at the World Cup. Even after recently withdrawing from England duty for three weeks of rest, the midfielder remains overplayed according to the columnist, who also noted 16-year-old Max Dowman's presence on Arsenal's bench.