Rice and Saka spotted in Arsenal training for first time after extended holiday following England Euro 2024 final run
DECLAN RICE was all smiles as he returned for his first Arsenal training session since the Euro 2024 final.
The Gunners midfielder, 25, joined England colleagues Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale back at London Colney.
France centre-half William Saliba was also in action for the first time since the summer festival of football.
The quartet were allowed an extended break after a busy tournament at Euro 2024 – which started four weeks after the Premier League season ended.
Saliba took a well deserved break in Sardinia with his girlfriend Sandra Shehab after playing every minute of Arsenal’s Prem campaign, in which they fell agonisingly short to Manchester City – again.
While Rice was pictured partying in Ibiza with Ivan Toney and Luke Shaw days after England’s Euros final heartbreak.
Rice and Saka started every game for the Three Lions, while Saliba played the full 90 in every French game.
Goalkeeper Ramsdale did not receive any minutes under Gareth Southgate, but trained alongside Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson.
Only Saka and Rice featured in England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final, but all players were granted the time off.
France failed to live up to expectations, crashing out of the semi-finals following a 2-1 defeat to Spain.
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It means all four missed Arsenal‘s pre-season tour of the United States, which meant they couldn’t wave off Emile Smith Rowe who left midway through for Fulham.
The summer warm-up games have been a mixed bag for Mikel Arteta with Arsenal having won, lost and drawn one each.
They drew 1-1 with Bournemouth but beat Manchester United 2-1 in LA, before losing an expedition penalty shootout to the latter.
The Gunners’ final game across the pond saw them fall to a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, courtesy of goals from Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho.
Arsenal will play Bayer Leverkusen on August 7 at the Emirates Stadium.
But this might come too soon for Saka, Saliba, Rice and Ramsdale.
Before kicking off their Premier League campaign against Wolves at home on August 17.