Declan Rice kicks back with James Corden in Sardinia as Arsenal star enjoys luxury yacht break with comedian and West Ham legend Mark Noble ahead of new season

After a gruelling season, both mentally and physically, followed by an intense run to the semi-finals of the World Cup, Arsenal star Declan Rice has been making the most of every moment of his downtime.

Rice racked up an impressive 69 appearances for club and country last season, helping Arsenal secure their first Premier League title in 22 years and reach their first Champions League final in two decades, where they were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.

He also played a crucial role in England's third-place finish at the World Cup under Thomas Tuchel, despite being hampered by injury and illness throughout the tournament.

Sharing 12 photographs on Instagram alongside the caption 'peace', Rice looked relaxed and sun-kissed as he enjoyed a luxurious break.

One image showed the 27-year-old alongside James Corden and former West Ham team-mate Mark Noble at a high-end Asian fusion restaurant called Nammos Baja, on the coast of Italy's Sardinia.

Another featured Rice arm-in-arm with Noble, who now serves as sporting director of the Championship club, with a huge yacht behind them.

Rice was pictured alongside James Corden and former West Ham team-mate Mark Noble at a high-end Asian fusion restaurant called Nammos Baja, on the coast of Italy's Sardinia

Rice shared a picture arm-in-arm with Noble, who now serves as sporting director of the Championship club, with a huge yacht behind them

The midfielder has been enjoying family time too, pictured alongside three-year-old son Jude

Rice reportedly struck up a friendship with Corden during England's Euro 2020 campaign, when Noble took him to watch one of the games.

Rice also shared a picture alongside Noble taken in front of a huge cruise liner with a helicopter perched on top, as well as a selfie from the driver's seat of a jet ski.

The midfielder has been enjoying family time too, with three-year-old son Jude pictured kicking a football on a golf course and trying his hand at fishing.

It will have provided the perfect tonic after a physically demanding summer that saw Rice limp out of England's World Cup group-stage clash with Ghana with heavy strapping on his left calf.

It later emerged that Rice had been suffering from a neural issue affecting his hamstring and lower back, which left him bed-bound for three days before England's quarter-final victory over Norway.

After being substituted at half-time against Erling Haaland's Norway, Rice returned to play 82 minutes of England's semi-final defeat by Argentina.

It wasn't until the Three Lions' bronze-medal win over France that he appeared to be back to his best, opening the scoring with a stunning third-minute strike before completing the full 90 minutes of the remarkable 10-goal thriller.

Either way, Mikel Arteta will be keen not to rush Rice back ahead of schedule, given the importance of keeping one of his key players fit throughout the campaign.

Rice also posted snaps of a huge cruise liner, a helicopter and a selfie from the driver's seat of a jet ski

Rice is now easing his way back in after watching Arsenal's friendly against Como in north London on Wednesday

The Arsenal manager has already praised Rice's mindset on his return to pre-season training.

'We have three different pre-seasons with different groups, but the most important thing is the attitude,' Arteta said at the end of July.

'When I speak to Declan Rice, he is already saying, "OK, if I come this day, then I can play then."

'That is much more powerful than the programme. We want to adapt to the context, which is different.'

Rice is now easing his way back in after watching Arsenal's friendly against Como in north London on Wednesday.

The Gunners begin their competitive campaign against Manchester City in the Community Shield at Cardiff's Principality Stadium this weekend.

As has become customary in recent years, the Premier League champions will then kick off the new league season on the Friday night.

For Arsenal, that means a home clash with newly promoted Coventry City, managed by former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, at the Emirates Stadium on 21 August.