'Nowhere near the level' - Arsenal star Declan Rice admits heartbreak of Euro 2024 final defeat made last season 'really, really hard'

The 25-year-old midfielder was one of the key figures in England’s journey to the final, playing every minute of their campaign. Yet, despite his heavy workload, Rice returned to action for Arsenal just 34 days after that fateful night, starting in their Premier League opener against Wolves and eventually racking up 60 appearances across all competitions last season.

Speaking from Asia during Arsenal’s pre-season tour, Rice spoke candidly about how the emotional fallout from the Euro final affected the start of his 2024–25 season.

"I'm putting really big demands on myself this year," he said. "I'm really trying to push myself because the back end of the season I finished really, really strong. At the start of the season last year I was nowhere near the level that I require of myself. I put it down to a few things. The back of the Euros final was mentally really tough. Having 16 days off, going straight back into a Premier League season. It was really, really hard.

"It took me a few months to get going again but now I'm getting a full pre-season, I feel really fit, really strong and I'm going to try and kick off the new season really, really strong and that's what I want to do and put the demands on myself to do that."

Originally deployed as a deep-lying anchor, Rice has adapted to playing further up the pitch, often operating as a No. 8. That role appears set to expand this season with the summer additions of Martín Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, both natural holding midfielders. With these new signings expected to occupy deeper positions, Rice is likely to have greater freedom to push forward and influence play in the final third.

Arsenal’s pre-season tour continues this week with a highly anticipated friendly against Newcastle on July 27 in Singapore. That match is set to be followed by a historic encounter with arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, marking the first ever north London derby to be played overseas.