Declan Rice was Arsenal’s big summer signing. They desired him so much that they paid £105 million to bring him aboard.
Months into the season, the 24-year-old has been outstanding, delivering game after game. Mikel Arteta has already used him as a No. 6 and as a No. 8. He appears to be at ease in both of these midfield roles. Notably, many believe that he gets to show his brilliance when he plays as a No. 8, as he has the pleasure of showing his ball skills with his brilliant technical ability.
There has been some discussion about whether Rice is efficient, either as a No. 8 or a No. 6, but the question is which position he prefers. Rice, speaking on TNT after the 2-0 Champions League win over Sevilla, revealed that playing as No. 6 is his preferred position.
“I think my best position is probably as a number 6. My biggest strength is breaking up the play and taking the ball from deep,” Rice told TNT Sports post-match.
“I do get excited when I play number 8, though. I get to show the other side of my game. I didn’t stop running tonight!”
However, he noted that he will always seek to deliver wherever he is played, saying, “I’ve just been taking it game by game. I don’t want to be boring, but every time I put the shirt on, I try to start well.
“I want to do the best I can for the team. There’s more I can still add. But it’s been a good start. I’m excited for what’s to come.”
So far, in which position has Rice impressed you while featuring for the Gunners?
Daniel O
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100% no6 is his best position. No argument there.
Rice was a great signing 👍😺
His interception skills are second to none, the # 6 spot got to be his best position against quality opposition like the Citizens.
Surely when we goes behind, he could be pivotal playing further up the park in pegging back the opposition.
But Arsenal needs another powerful midfielder to unshackle the former West Ham man when the going gets rough.
I disagree – he’s brilliant defensively, so playing a 6 makes sense, but actually he’s not the best receiving the ball in tight spaces and playing as a deep playmaker. He’s not poor, don’t get me wrong, he’s just not as good as partey, or someone like that, and at a club like ours, ideally our no6 would be brilliant at that kind of play because it’s so important in setting up or attacks.
Rice has an amazing engine and in the 8 role, his defensive skills can both help protect our defence and help us win the ball back higher up the pitch, which both creates chances at times and helps us dominate the play, so for me, that’s his best position for us.
That said, he’s a good 6 as well, I just prefer if that’s his secondary position and we have partey, or someone similar, in that role alongside him.
Of course, that’s his future here with us. I don’t like his play as an 8 or B2B, too active for my liking.