By OkayGoal 
Arsenal marched into the Champions League quarter-finals with a professional 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night. Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice provided the goals that secured safe passage to the last eight.
However, Rice’s post-match interview exposed the grueling reality behind Arsenal’s impressive season.
While the England international celebrated reaching another European milestone, he admitted how the relentless fixture schedule is pushing players to their limits.
Declan Rice speaks up after Leverkusen game
Rice earned player of the match honors after another commanding display in midfield. His goal capped a performance full of defensive work, progressive passing and tactical intelligence. Yet when the TNT Sports microphone arrived, Rice bypassed the usual clichés. His opening line cut straight to the point: “I’m shattered, it’s non stop.” The midfielder continued: “We’re in all the competitions still so it’s been every three days since October.”
Few players occupy positions as demanding as Rice’s role in Mikel Arteta’s system. The 27-year-old shoulders multiple responsibilities at N5.
Against Leverkusen, he covered ground relentlessly, making crucial interventions before popping up to finish Arsenal’s second goal. Sustaining that output match after match requires extraordinary physical capacity. Rice’s candid admission suggests even he feels the strain accumulating.
Despite acknowledging the difficulty, Rice emphasized Arsenal’s determination to manage the situation. “We deal with it the best we can but it’s difficult. We find ways to win and it’s all good,” he explained.
“Everyone asks where I get my energy from. I just get this second burst of energy,” he revealed.
That second wind has become Rice’s trademark. Late runs into opposition boxes, last-ditch tackles, surging forward carries when teammates tire. His ability to find another gear in critical moments separates good midfielders from elite ones.
However, even Rice’s remarkable engine has limits. Arteta must manage his minutes carefully to preserve that quality through the season’s decisive weeks.
