Arsenal have a number of players at UEFA Euro 2024, and two of them will be in action for England against Serbia on Sunday.
Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are the three Arsenal players who are part of the England squad at UEFA Euro 2024.
Ramsdale is a back-up goalkeeper for England. Just like he played second fiddle to David Raya at Arsenal last season, he is behind Everton star Jordan Pickford in the pecking order for the Three Lions.
Rice and Saka are key players for England, just like they are for Arsenal. And they are set to start for the Three Lions against Serbia in Group C on Sunday.
While Saka will be deployed out wide, former West Ham United star Rice, who scored seven goals and gave 10 assists in 51 matches in all competitions for Arsenal last season, will start in midfield.
Jack Wilshere sends message to Arsenal star Declan Rice
And, according to former Arsenal and England international midfielder Jack Wilshere, Rice will have to take responsibility for breaking down teams who play defensively and has to step up his game.
Wilshere wrote in The Sun: “In the Iceland game, England did not move the ball anywhere near quick enough.
“If you have a team in a low block with two banks of four, or even five at the back, it can be too easy for them.
“Declan Rice needs to take responsibility in those situations because he has a really good understanding of when to speed the game up and when to slow it down.
“Against Iceland, we were sort of pressing but not really pressing.
“Dec is very intelligent. Sometimes he just goes and he presses and creates something, forces a decision, a moment like when the Iceland goalkeeper mucked up his clearance and Cole Palmer had a shot on goal that was blocked.”
Declan Rice is inspiring the next generation of England players
Rice is still a relatively young player at 25, but the Arsenal and England international midfielder is already starting to become a role model for the next generation.
Adam Wharton is just 20 now and has been a surprise pick for England for Euro 2024.
The Crystal Palace midfielder has been playing in the Premier League for only a few months following his move from Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window, and he is already looking up to Rice as a role model.
Wharton told talkSPORT this week: “I spoke to Declan and he is a top player, you have seen that in the last few seasons. The way Arsenal play has shown what he can produce and he is a top guy off the pitch as well.
“I’ve been getting those little things. It’s everyone really, learning off everyone but especially him.
“He’s in a similar position to me and it is good to pick up on things. Even if it’s body positioning when the ball is in a certain position, or bits of communication.
“It just helps you when you are on the pitch. The way team-mates communicate makes it easier for you.”
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