Gary Neville has urged Gareth Southgate to repeat one Mikel Arteta trick to get the best out of Declan Rice for England.
The Arsenal midfielder started on Sunday in the Three Lions’ first Euros game as England secured all three points in a tense but ultimately easy 1-0 win against Serbia, with Rice impressing alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold.
With Arsenal fans loving what they saw from Rice on the night, it’s clear that the 25-year-old is going to be key for England in their quest to finally win international silverware under Southgate, with the home nation one of the early favourites.
Yet Neville has now suggested how Southgate can get the best out of Rice via an Arteta tactic.
Deploying Rice in advanced role could unlock England’s true midfield power
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Neville suggested that pairing Rice with a more defensive-minded midfielder and allowing the Arsenal star to push up could be beneficial in unlocking England’s true power.
Arteta transformed Rice from a no. 6 to a more advanced left-sided no. 8 with fantastic results, and now at the Euros, Neville is suggesting that Southgate does something similar to get the best out of the Arsenal midfielder.
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Neville said: “Having that partner alongside Declan Rice is important because I don’t think he is at his very best when he’s sat back covering for other players. Mikel Arteta found that out at Arsenal and worked out he was better being able to move forward.
“Jorginho or [Thomas] Partey came in at the end of the season. There’s no doubt we’re a little undercooked, players having not played for a few weeks and maybe that’s the first time that team has played together, I’ll think they’ll get better.”
New Rice role for England could lead to Euros success at last
Rice was reborn this season under Arteta as Arsenal’s club-record signing became arguably the most compete midfielder in the Premier League in virtually every single metric.
And for England, Rice being played in a similar role could lead the Three Lions to Euros success at last, especially with how assured the midfielder looks in his new position for Arsenal this season.
Indeed, Rice took hos game to new levels at Arsenal this season, and Southgate making a similar switch for England could be the difference between another disappointing exit or silverware at last.
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