Rice Looking Ragged as Arsenal Fatigue Concern Looms; Odegaard's Captaincy Under Scrutiny

Arsenal's 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday has positioned them as strong favourites heading into next week's Champions League semi-final second leg at the Emirates, but concerns are mounting over the physical toll of their relentless fixture schedule.

While Declan Rice delivered another solid midfield display in Madrid, observers are worried the England international is running on empty. Having already featured in 57 games this season, Rice is showing visible signs of fatigue—a pattern that became particularly evident during Arsenal's recent clash with Newcastle.

"When you watch Declan Rice, especially on Saturday, he looks shattered," one pundit noted on talkSPORT, highlighting how tiredness has begun to seep through Arsenal's ranks. The Gunners' fixture congestion is stark when compared to their weekend opponents Fulham, who have played just 41 matches all season.

Rice's midfield partner Martin Zubimendi finds himself in similarly depleted circumstances, having also surpassed the 50-game mark across all competitions. Yet Mikel Arteta continues to overlook Christian Norgaard, the £15 million summer signing from Brentford, who has managed just 56 minutes of Premier League action and has not featured in Arsenal's last six outings.

"I thought he was fantastic at Brentford," the pundit added regarding Norgaard's absence. "He doesn't trust him at all. He's played hardly any games this season."

The fitness crisis extends beyond midfield concerns. Martin Odegaard's removal after an hour against Atletico has reignited debate over whether the Arsenal captain remains fit for purpose. The Norwegian international endured a difficult campaign by his standards and his substitution in such a crucial encounter has prompted fresh scrutiny.

"Getting dragged off in a Champions League semi-final when you're the captain is never a good look," Jamie O'Hara told talkSPORT. "Last season, he wasn't great either. He's been terrible this season."

Questions are now being asked whether Arsenal have simply outgrown their skipper. With Eberechi Eze introduced as his replacement, there are suggestions that Odegaard's grip on the captaincy may need loosening.

"I do believe that Arsenal may be growing away from Odegaard," O'Hara suggested. "Maybe they've got to look at a player who can come in and be that talisman. He needs to buck his ideas up because he will end up falling down the pecking order. I don't think he can be the captain anymore."