Journalist James McNicholas has now given his verdict on how Mikel Arteta needs to adapt his Arsenal squad to suit Declan Rice.
Declan Rice has been a revelation for Arsenal this season.
The 25-year-old arrived at the Emirates Stadium in the recent summer transfer window with a reputation as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
However, the former West Ham United man has shown that there is far more to his game beyond simply breaking up opposition attacks.
Rice has already enjoyed his best goalscoring season of his career so far. Across all competitions, he has racked up 7 goals and 10 assists.
He has been able to have such an impact in the final third this season as Mikel Arteta has regularly unleashed him in a new role, higher up the pitch than he has been deployed before.
With Kai Havertz establishing himself as a striker rather then being used in the middle of the park, space has been created for Rice to push forward into a more advanced No. 8 role, with either Jorginho or Thomas Partey then sat behind him at the base of the midfield trio.
However, Rice still insists that he is at his best in a more defensive No. 6 role.
Arsenal will almost certainly seek to bolster their midfield unit again in the upcoming summer transfer window. Both Jorginho and Partey are in the twilight years of their careers, and more depth is needed. Everton ace Amadou Onana has recently been linked with a switch to North London.
The type of midfielder Arteta signs will surely shed more light on his long-term plan for Rice.
Arsenal told what kind of signing will get the best out of Declan Rice
James McNicholas believes that signing a versatile midfielder, who can play both as a No. 6 and as a No. 8 is the ideal solution.
Speaking on the Arsecast Extra podcast, the reporter said: “The important thing is surrounding Declan Rice with other midfield players who have a similar degree of flexibility. So then you have true options, in terms of how you deploy these guys.
“You know, I don’t think you necessarily have to decide he [Rice] is a No. 6 or he is a No. 8, but you need to make sure you’ve got a squad that enables you to use him as either.
“I do feel a bit like that about Declan Rice at No. 8. That there is this kind of force there, that if we can find a way to harness then we might unlock a new dimension to him. I really think he has the potential to do it and be very, very good there. He has been very good there for Arsenal already.”
What does Mikel Arteta have planned for Declan Rice?
Rice has been described as the best Arsenal signing since Dennis Bergkamp was brought to the club. If Arteta can make an addition this summer which serves to coax even more out of the England star then that would be a huge boost.
However, it could be that the Spanish coach has already decided that Rice’s future belongs in one very fixed role, and a new signing could cement that. For instance, if the Gunners sign another pure No. 8, then Rice will surely be confined to deeper-lying role going forward.