Manchester United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville have now given their verdict on what role best suits Arsenal star Declan Rice.
Declan Rice has taken his game to another level at Arsenal this season.
Since the midfielder’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium from West Ham United in the recent summer transfer window, the 25-year-old has proven himself to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, if not the world.
Mikel Arteta clearly always had huge faith in Rice’s ability, as the Gunners’ shelled out a club-record £105 million fee to prise him away from their east London rivals. Arsenal fans are now convinced that Rice has already lived up to his hefty price tag. The fact that his fee is never really mentioned now tells its own story in that regard.
Despite his impressive form, there is still some debate about where on the pitch the 48-cap England international is at his best.
How Mikel Arteta has reinvented Declan Rice at Arsenal
Rice has enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career so far. In 28 Premier League outings he has chipped in with six goals and six assists.
Arteta has encouraged Rice to take up a more advanced role. Whilst he arrived at Arsenal with a reputation built upon his performances as a defensive midfielder, and he has excelled in that position for the Gunners, Rice has now shown that there are more dimensions to his game.
By deploying Jorginho at the base of the midfield trio, protecting the back four, Arteta has been able to push Rice forward into one of the more advanced midfield roles. This has proven to be a masterstroke, as the former West Ham man has shown that he can have a huge impact in the final third. The Rice and Jorginho partnership has been a huge boost for Arsenal in recent weeks.
His defensive instincts allow him to help Arsenal to win the ball back higher up the pitch, and his aerial prowess makes him a real threat in the opposition box. Rice has also shown that he has a propensity for providing hero moments when Arsenal need them, as his late winners against Manchester United and Luton Town this season demonstrated.
Where should Declan Rice play for England?
Gary Neville and Roy Keane now want to see this attack-minded version of Rice in an England shirt. The emergence of Kobbie Mainoo, who could replicate the function that Jorginho serves for Arsenal, could free up Rice to push forward for the Three Lions at this summer’s EUROs tournament.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane claimed, “Rice has always had more in his locker than that sitting role.”
Neville chipped in with, “Declan isn’t the best receiving it in tight areas with his back to play. I think he’s better when he’s actually facing to play and running forward.”
Keane then stated, “definitely, Rice can be in a more advanced position.”