‘Now everyone’s calling me it…’ – Declan Rice reveals hilarious new nickname he has among Arsenal team-mates
DECLAN RICE is known as the Horse to his Arsenal team-mates — and he is still hoping to gallop to a famous title success.
The £105million star revealed his new nickname as Mikel Arteta’s side prepare for the home straight in this Premier League campaign.
Arsenal, sweating on the fitness of forward Kai Havertz following a hamstring scare during their Dubai winter training trip, visit Leicester on Saturday.
Rice and Co are six points off leaders Liverpool and will be keeping an eye on the Merseyside derby at Everton tonight — the Reds’ game in hand.
Arne Slot’s Kop side also face tough matches at Aston Villa and Manchester City this month and Rice feels his fitness and form are ramping up at just the right time.
On his new nickname, he said: “It’s positive. Oleksandr Zinchenko started it then Jorginho went with it — now everyone’s calling me it.
“I think it’s because they think I can run all day, that I’m athletic, my ability to go again, my sustainability and availability to the team.
“Even two days since the last game, I’m running around and they’re thinking I’m a mad man. I don’t mind the nickname but I just have to keep it going.”
Only Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has played more minutes than Rice, 26, since August 2022.
A toe injury in November kept him out of the only Arsenal game he missed in that two-year period.
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He has not had the greatest of campaigns but the midfielder feels good about ending the season on a high.
Rice, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “It probably was a slower start for me, coming off the back of the Euros. Because I’ve been so consistent over the last few years. But I’m hitting form and full fitness at the right time.
“I knew I had to up my game, up my level. Over the last few months, I’ve been watching lots of clips, sitting down with analysts and seeing where I can improve. There’s been a gradual, good increase so I need to keep going.”
Rice also revealed that only since he left West Ham and joined Arsenal in 2023 has he been more focused on his nutrition.
He said: “I never really took to that side of the game until the nutritionist at Arsenal sat me down, went through it properly and showed me how your body works.
“And what you have to be eating and drinking constantly to be at the top of your game.
Chasing Liverpool
“That’s a really important part and with the number of games we’re playing, it’s probably the most important part. Once we’ve played, it’s how we go again in a few days’ time.
“It’s really tough. Every player has a different routine and lives differently. The staff at the club keep us going. You’re away from home a lot — there’s hotels, travel and a lot of away games.
“There’s a lot in the mind but when you’re competing for stuff at the top end of the game, it’s about how much you want it.
“That’s why I keep myself going and I know it’s the same for my team-mates as this year we want to achieve some really good things.”
As for catching Slot’s side, Rice said: “There’s a long way to go. We can only keep believing, working and having full trust we can achieve great things.
“It’s down to us to get that over the line. Big things are coming. We must stay positive and keep going.”