They run more than anyone. They play almost every minute. And now Arsenal face a dangerous question: Are their most important players being pushed too far?
Because Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi have become the unstoppable engines of Arsenal’s title charge — but even engines can overheat.
Arsenal’s “Marathon Men” Rice and Zubimendi Have Run Nearly 600km — But Arteta Faces a Risky Decision
As Arsenal surge toward what could be their first Premier League title in 22 years, one hidden story sits beneath the excitement.
It’s not about goals, tactics, or dramatic last-minute victories.
It’s about distance.
A staggering amount of distance.
Between them, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi have run nearly 600 kilometers this season — a relentless workload that has transformed them into the midfield heartbeat of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
But with the season entering its most intense stretch, a pressing question now looms inside the club:
Are Arsenal’s most important players being asked to do too much?
The Midfield Engine Powering Arsenal’s Title Push
For most of the season, Arsenal’s midfield has revolved around a powerful partnership.
Rice and Zubimendi.
The duo have quietly become one of the most influential midfield pairings in the Premier League, controlling matches with tireless movement, intelligent positioning, and relentless defensive work.
Statistically, their workload is almost unbelievable.
Martin Zubimendi: 311 km covered
Declan Rice: 285 km covered
Combined, that’s 596 kilometers — more distance than many elite runners complete in a year of training.
In fact, Premier League data suggests no player has run more than Zubimendi this season, while Rice sits comfortably among the league’s top distance runners.
Together, they’ve logged roughly 2,400 minutes each across Arsenal’s first 29 league matches.
They are, quite literally, Arsenal’s marathon men.
A Partnership Built on Chemistry
Mikel Arteta doesn’t see Rice and Zubimendi as just teammates.
He sees them as a pair — a relationship that extends beyond tactics and formations.
The Arsenal manager recently described the connection between the two midfielders as something special.
“There is a strong relationship there,” Arteta explained.
“Off the field as well. That makes what happens on the field very, very special.”
That chemistry has become the foundation of Arsenal’s tactical setup.
The team’s midfield structure has effectively evolved into a “2+1” system, where Rice and Zubimendi anchor the midfield while allowing others to push forward.
Their work behind the scenes gives Arsenal the balance required to attack aggressively without losing defensive control.
But that level of responsibility also comes with a cost.
Signs of Fatigue Are Starting to Appear
Recently, subtle warning signs have begun to emerge.
During Arsenal’s recent match against Chelsea, neither Rice nor Zubimendi looked at their usual dominant best.
Rice appeared visibly exhausted late in the game, particularly after one desperate sprint back toward his own goal that stretched his hamstrings.
Moments later, Arteta substituted him in the 76th minute.
Zubimendi also showed signs of fatigue — although his appeared more mental than physical.
At one point, the Spaniard attempted a risky backpass that nearly gifted Chelsea’s Joao Pedro a clear scoring opportunity.
Small moments like these may seem insignificant, but over the course of a demanding season they can signal something deeper.
Fatigue.
Zubimendi’s Debut Season Has Been Relentless
For Martin Zubimendi, the intensity of this season has been unprecedented.
After joining Arsenal from Real Sociedad last summer, many expected the Spanish midfielder would need time to adapt to the speed and physicality of English football.
Instead, he became an instant starter.
Zubimendi has appeared in all 29 Premier League matches, starting 28 of them.
It’s an extraordinary workload for a player adjusting to a new league — and one Arteta admits has been shaped by circumstances.
“The number of games and competitions we are involved in, and injuries as well,” Arteta said.
Simply put, Arsenal have needed him.
Arsenal’s Relentless Fixture Schedule
This season has been one of the busiest in Arsenal’s history.
The club is competing across multiple competitions, with matches arriving almost every three days.
And the workload isn’t stopping anytime soon.
Arteta revealed another concern looming over the squad’s future workload.
“They will go with their national teams in March,” he said.
“And after that, there’s the World Cup in June and July.”
That means Rice and Zubimendi could be playing high-intensity football almost continuously for over a year.
It’s a brutal schedule — even for elite athletes.
Rotation Options Are Limited
Normally, a manager would rotate players to manage fatigue.
But Arsenal’s midfield depth has been compromised.
Mikel Merino, who could have provided rotation, is currently sidelined for months with a bone injury in his right foot.
That leaves Arteta with limited alternatives.
One option is Christian Norgaard, who joined from Brentford last summer.
Yet Arteta has rarely used him.
Norgaard has made only five Premier League appearances, all from the bench, and has been an unused substitute 18 times this season.
The lack of regular playing time makes inserting him into such a critical role difficult.
The Manager’s Impossible Decision
Ultimately, Arteta faces a dilemma every title-chasing manager understands.
Rest your best players — and risk dropping points.
Or keep playing them — and risk burnout.
Arteta acknowledges how difficult the decision can be.
“You have to understand which games are more suited for them,” he said.
“And also how the player feels.”
Sometimes players themselves insist on continuing.
“There are moments when they say, ‘I’m in a great moment, I want to keep playing.’”
For competitors like Rice and Zubimendi, sitting out games is rarely appealing.
A Potential Opportunity to Rest
There may finally be a brief window for recovery.
Arsenal are scheduled to face third-division side Mansfield Town in the FA Cup, a fixture that could allow Arteta to rotate his squad.
But before that match arrives, Arsenal still have another critical challenge.
Brighton.
And when that match begins, it’s hard to imagine Arsenal’s midfield without their two relentless engines.
For better or worse, Rice and Zubimendi remain the players carrying Arsenal’s title dreams forward — kilometer by kilometer.
Leave a Reply