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Mikel Arteta insists Declan Rice was \u201cshattered\u201d for Arsenal\u2019s clash with Sporting on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Arsenal saw out a goalless draw at the Emirates to confirm their place in the Champions League semi-finals, where they will meet Atletico Madrid, after Kai Havertz\u2019s late goal in the first leg secured a 1-0 aggregate win.<\/p>\n
It was the latest unconvincing performance from Arteta\u2019s side in a long list of them on the back of Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City<\/strong>the FA Cup exit at the hands of Southampton and the Premier League loss to Bournemouth on Saturday<\/strong>.<\/p>\n READ MORE: No fire, pure fear as Arsenal scrape into Champions League semi-final with fraught 0-0 draw<\/strong><\/p>\n Thierry Henry has laughed at their chances<\/strong> in the crunch clash with Manchester City on Sunday and Joe Cole has urged Arteta to drop a player who \u201cfluffed his lines\u201d against Sporting<\/strong> for what many believe will be the title decider.<\/p>\n And after the game Arteta delivered a worrying update on Rice, who battled illness to play the full game against Sporting.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is the reason why we are the only English team in the competition, because this league and this schedule takes the hell out of you, and it\u2019s very difficult to do what we\u2019ve done,\u201d said Arteta.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not perfect, we need to improve things, that\u2019s for sure, we recognise that, but there\u2019s value in what these players have done, because they deserve it.<\/p>\n \u201cDeclan yesterday, he was shattered. He had no chance to play today, he wasn\u2019t feeling good at all today, he played 94 minutes at the level that he\u2019s done.<\/p>\n \u201cPiero (Hincapi\u00e9) the same, every single player is putting everything through the line to contribute, to give his best, and I really value that from the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Rice was made captain in the absence of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka ahead of Gabriel Magalhaes, who led them against Bournemouth, and Arteta revealed the England international wearing the armband was a decision made by the group before Arsenal confirmed their semi-final meeting with Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n \u201cThey made a decision,\u201d Arteta added.<\/p>\n \u201cThey made a decision because Declan has earned the status and the role.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way he\u2019s taken ownership in difficult moments. He\u2019s a great leader, he\u2019s a top player for us and I love that the players take that ownership.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n