Declan Rice late winner shows he can be more than just a defensive midfielder for Arsenal

ARSENAL needed a new midfield anchor and in Declan Rice they found one of the best in the Premier League. Indeed, the England international has given the Gunners a stronger presence in the centre of the pitch with Mikel Arteta already building around Rice. The £105m man can be more than just a midfield anchor for his new team, though.

Rice’s stoppage time goal against Manchester United highlighted how the 24-year-old has more to offer in an attacking sense with his opportunistic strike effectively giving Arsenal an important win. It could prove to be a launchpad for the Gunners’ entire season after a challenging start to the campaign.

By his own admission, Rice might not have taken a shot from that position inside the box had he found himself in a similar situation earlier in his career. “I probably would have crossed that, to be honest,” said the midfielder, highlighting how the move to Arsenal is forcing him to improve other parts of his game.

Arsenal’s midfield setup is giving Rice the freedom to push forward more frequently than he ever did for West Ham. His primary role is still to provide structure and maintain a grip on possession in and around the centre circle, but Oleksandr Zinchenko’s willingness to push into the middle means the Gunners often have an overload in there. That’s to Rice’s benefit.

Arteta has likely shown Rice footage of how Granit Xhaka performed this hybrid number six-number eight role for Arsenal last season. It was a position that got the best out of the previously maligned Swiss midfielder and Rice has clearly been identified as someone who can do something similar.

Declan Rice vs Manchester United 🔴👀 pic.twitter.com/gCAVJFA82G

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 5, 2023

“I am comfortable playing in both roles,” Rice explained when asked for his opinion on his new role for Arsenal. “I like the six role a lot more, it’s where I feel best in training on and off the ball. But I’ve been playing the eight role more, you get more chances in the box. Wherever the manager wants me to play, I’ll play.”

So much of Arsenal’s game plan revolves around the midfield. Arteta likes his full backs to push into central midfield with the idea being that attack-minded players like Martin Odegaard are freed up to push higher into the half spaces. By funnelling so much play through the centre, space is also created in the wide areas for Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to isolate opposition defenders.

In the past, Rice has been guilty of slowing play down on the ball, but there has been no sign of that weakness in his performances for Arsenal so far this season. He is also making more of an effort to step forward with his first touch to open up space and get the Gunners quickly on the front foot. Arteta’s coaching is having an impact.

Rice is being challenged by the demands being made of him by Arteta, but this is surely why he made the move to the Emirates Stadium. At 24, Rice can no longer be classed as a youngster and so the improvements being made to his game come at a time when he is entering the best years of his career.

Already considered one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League, Rice is on his way to realising his full potential. His determination to improve is obvious with the 24-year-old refreshingly honest in his assessment of his own game. Rice’s personality has strengthened Arsenal’s character as a whole and his winner against Manchester United hints at the player he is already becoming for them.