September 12th 2024.
The football world is buzzing with discussions about Declan Rice's impressive performance for Arsenal. Some of the biggest names in the sport, including Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, and Jamie Carragher, have shared their thoughts on the young player's best role for both Arsenal and England.
Originally brought in as a holding midfielder from West Ham, Rice has flourished under Mikel Arteta's guidance. In his first season with the club, the 25-year-old scored an impressive seven goals in the Premier League after being given more freedom to push forward.
However, during England's Euro 2024 campaign, Rice took on a more defensive role. This sparked a debate among the pundits, with Neville claiming that Rice is not as good as Manchester City's Rodri in that position. Carragher disagreed, calling Neville's claim "harsh" and arguing that Rice offers a more well-rounded skill set compared to the Spanish midfielder.
Scholes also chimed in, saying that he believes Rice's best role is as a deep-lying midfielder. Neville then added that he doesn't think Rice can get the ball off the back four as well as Rodri can. Carragher quickly jumped in, calling Neville's criticism "harsh."
Scholes continued, saying that he believes Rice's biggest strength is receiving the ball and taking touches. Neville then posed the question of whether Rice knows how to receive the ball on the half-turn and where to position himself to receive it. Scholes confidently replied, "I think so."
But Neville still had doubts, saying that in a tournament scenario, he's not sure if Rice can control the game and get the team playing the way a midfielder like Rodri would. Scholes disagreed, saying that Rice doesn't need to score 15-20 goals a season to be considered a top midfielder.
Keane also weighed in, saying that he believes Rice has the potential to score goals, but expecting 15-20 goals from any midfielder is a lot. He did, however, mention that he thinks Rice could easily get double figures if he played a more advanced role at Arsenal and had a solid defensive player behind him.
Carragher then shared his thoughts, saying that he sees Rice as a versatile midfielder who can play both as a powerful number eight and a defensive midfielder who can get on the ball. He also pointed out that it's unfair to compare Rice to players like Luka Modric or Rodri, who are considered the best in the world at receiving the ball. Carragher believes that Rice's abilities in other areas make up for any shortcomings in that department.
As the debate continued, the pundits also discussed the latest news and updates surrounding Arsenal. They all agreed that Rice is a crucial player for the club and will play a significant role in their success. With his impressive performances and versatility, there's no doubt that Declan Rice will continue to be a hot topic of discussion in the football world.
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