Declan Rice reveals Arsenal injury truth after Mikel Arteta dropped worrying statement - 'Killed us'

Declan Rice missed Arsenal's win over Mansfield Town in the FA Cup with a fitness concern and has spoken about the club's injury record

Declan Rice says it is the lack of injuries compared to last season that has benefited Arsenal in the Premier League title race this term. The Gunners remain the favourites to be crowned champions this season, and are also competing in the three cup competitions.

Arsenal have a seven-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, but have played one game more. The two clubs will go head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium on April 18 in a fixture that could prove decisive in the title race.

Mikel Arteta was forced to deal with several injuries last season, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu all spending lengthy spells on the sidelines.

By comparison, Arsenal have had a better fitness record this term, but have still been forced to have several key players on the sidelined with injury.

Rice has explained how the club’s injury improved injury record has played a key role in Arsenal’s title bid this term.

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"Last year, the injuries killed us," Rice told Hayters. "I know a lot of teams this year have been having the same problem, so I can't complain about that, but we lost a lot of key players last year.

"We have an amazing squad this year. Players you can rely on in every position. Also, there’s a calmness. You go in every day, you see the boys. It’s not all serious. It’s calm, it’s relaxed.

"It's like a family. You're going in, everyone’s in their early 20s, no one’s really above 30. Everyone's vibing. It's a nice group to be around.

"We have such a good set of staff all around the building, every department. So everything’s been really good from start to start to now. We’re getting into the business end, which is the most important part now."

Rice was one of several players rested by Arteta for Arsenal’s win over Mansfield Town in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Arteta chose to rest Rice, Gabriel and Martin Zubimendi due to fitness issues, with the Arsenal boss offering an update.

"Well, they had issues and they've been carrying issues," Arteta said. "And the amount of games that we are playing, it's obviously super demanding.

"It was the only time to try to make sure that we can clean those issues that they're having to start the next sequence of two weeks before the break in the best possible way. And we had to make those decisions."

Arsenal were handed fresh concerns during the win over Mansfield, with Calafiori and Leandro Trossard all picking up knocks.

"Both of them, they had little niggles,” Arteta said. "They were not comfortable to continue. And I knew that this could be a possibility, especially in the conditions that we're playing today. So we had to take them off."