Declan Rice is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in the Premier League right now, if not the world. After making it at West Ham following his release from boyhood club Chelsea, the Londoner now represents Arsenal. But what is his best position and role in the team?
Declan Rice, 25, has been talked about a lot of late, chiefly because of clashing opinions over where on the pitch he’s best utilised. At former club West Ham , where he was made captain, Rice was a sitting midfielder, defensively minded and there to break up play. He’s played this role for Arsenal, too, but it’s probably not where he’s most effective.
Rice is, in fact, the ideal number eight, and it’s proven by manager Mikel Arteta deploying him in this position of late. He’s capable of getting up and down the pitch thanks to his engine, and also has the ability to impact games from an attacking sense, be it finding the right pass, swinging in a pinpoint cross, or making late lung-bursting runs into the opposition’s box.
Now, you’re always going to get good odds on Rice to score if football betting online , because he doesn’t score enough goals for his ability to strike the ball. Or, you could say he hasn’t yet because it’s only been recently that he’s getting more opportunities to get forward and to try and impact the game further up the pitch. In time, you’d expect the goals will come.
What also works with Rice operating as Arsenal’s number eight is that he’s still got the defensive qualities in his game, which will allow the Gunners to remain defensively sound in the middle of the park. Thomas Partey has been the go-to for Arteta to play the defensive midfield role, but Rice has the discipline, know-how and commitment to assist his teammate when the need to do so arises.
Arteta also knows that if he needs to deploy Rice as his number six or the player sat in front of the back four, he’s got the option to do that, too. Rice made his name in this position for West Ham and quickly established himself as one of the league’s best. It’s always how he caught the attention of the top flight’s big teams, with Arsenal managing to get the deal over the line ahead of rivals.
It appears as though Rice operating as an eight could become a thing across the board, including at international level for England. He’s already one of the first names on the teamsheet for the Three Lions, but under interim manager Lee Carsley recently, Rice played as an eight and positively impacted the game.
If Rice continues to operate as a number eight for Arsenal, which appears as though it will be the case moving forward, then he’s more likely to play there for England, too, as he grows into the role and impresses more. When he adds goals to his game, he will be one of the most complete central midfielders around.
