Rice came off at the Emirates on 63 minutes on Saturday with the match still goalless. Mikel Merino took his place. Nine minutes later, Martin Odegaard tucked in the rebound from a saved Noni Madueke shot to win it for the leaders.
Arteta waved the concern away after the final whistle, insisting his England midfielder is fine and the switch had nothing to do with an injury.
The timing matters. Rice sat out England’s October camp with a hamstring and lower-back problem, and Tuchel’s November squad, released on 6 November, restores him for the Nations League meetings with Croatia at Wembley on Thursday and Spain in Madrid three days later.
‘Looking after him more than any other season’
Arteta pointed to Rice’s recent Carabao Cup rest as proof the minutes have been managed carefully all autumn.
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“The only player, the only player in this squad that for two games in the Carabao Cup has been left out of the squad,” Arteta told reporters after the Hull win. “At home with two days off. That’s my concern. We are really looking after him more than any other season. The way he’s training and all the load.”
Rice played the full 90 minutes of Arsenal’s Champions League tie against Slavia Prague in midweek, and the early Hull hook was, per NowArsenal, the direct counterweight to that load.
Rice back for Tuchel after October absence
Rice has been one of Tuchel’s regular midfield picks, and his October withdrawal was keenly felt. England kick off against Croatia at Wembley at 7:45pm local time on Thursday 12 November, with the trip to Spain to follow on 15 November.
Arsenal return to Premier League action at Newcastle on 21 November, their first fixture after the break. The Hull win was a ninth victory from 10 matches, leaving them on 27 points and clear at the top.
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