Graeme Souness stands by his declare that Declan Rice will find yourself as a defender as an alternative of enjoying in midfield.
The Liverpool legend first made the argument after Rice’s transfer to Arsenal again in 2023.
4
Souness believed on the time that the England worldwide doesn’t rating sufficient targets.
Now into his third season with the Gunners, Rice has scored 18 targets in 121 appearances throughout all competitions.
He has additionally offered 26 assists, together with establishing Eberechi Eze’s first purpose in Sunday’s thrashing of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Nevertheless, Souness stays unconvinced by Rice’s capacity in sure components of his recreation regardless of labelling his defensive skills ’10 out of 10′.
READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
Souness on Rice
Having joined White & Jordan on Monday morning, he was requested about his earlier feedback relating to Rice, notably calling him a defender.
The previous Scotland midfielder informed talkSPORT: “I feel, in the end, that’s the place he’ll play.
“After the final England recreation, I feel there was some journalist stating one thing I put out 4 or 5 years in the past.
“In the event you’re speaking concerning the defensive aspect of the sport, for a central midfield participant, he’s a ten out of 10.
“I feel he’s a six out of 10 with the ball, when he’s making an attempt to make cute and intelligent passes. [That’s] simply my opinion.”
Rice largely featured as a centre-back after first breaking into the West Ham group beneath David Moyes in the course of the 2017/18 season.
4
4
Nevertheless, the then 19-year-old established himself in his extra recognisable defensive midfield function for the Hammers the next marketing campaign.
His shows earned him an England debut aged 20 in March 2019 earlier than sealing a transfer to the Gunners value an preliminary £100million two years in the past.
Rice has now made 72 appearances for the Three Lions in addition to being a key man for his nation on the final three main tournaments.
Arsenal’s greatest signing of the millennium
For Gooners, in the meantime, he is a sensation.
Amongst the reward, Piers Morgan has in contrast his affect to Premier League title winners Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira.
The broadcaster informed the talkSPORT Breakfast present: “Declan Rice must be the perfect Arsenal signing of this millennium.
4
“The very best three in my lifetime earlier than had been Henry, Bergkamp and Vieira, however the perfect signing this millennium has been Rice.
“He is an absolute common.”
Rice stays Arsenal’s file signing following his arrival in 2023.
His present deal is ready to run out in the summertime of 2028, though the membership holds the choice of an additional 12 months.
Learn Extra on talkSPORT
The 26-year-old has featured in all 18 matches throughout the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup to this point this time period.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect have gained all 4 of their European clashes alongside topping the Premier League and easing into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
