Rice often partnered Tomas Soucek in a double pivot at West Ham. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
3. Include him as part of a double pivot
Rice could even work in tandem with his prospective teammates!
Although Arsenal typically opt for free-flowing, possession-based football, clashes with tougher opponents may prompt a more conservative approach and force us to pack greater numbers into the middle.
Certain game-states cause the Gunners to form a 4-4-2 block in a bid to withstand pressure, and this system relies on two central midfielders with strong defensive instincts for success – something Rice offers in abundance thanks to his proficiency at centre-back.
The double pivot would enable our midfield to cover vast swathes of the pitch and boost their chances of winning the second ball. Meanwhile, Rice boasts immense composure in possession and would therefore offer security to progress play through the thirds against high-pressing opposition, and the company of a midfield partner would provide him with essential cover in case possession is lost.
Tactical versatility is a key criterion for Arteta, and Rice’s ability to work alone or in a pairing greatly enhances his appeal.
@David_Ornstein says the Declan Rice deal should be wrapped up shortly. [via <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://twitter.com/footballdaily?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@footballdaily] <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://t.co/4E91zhpPDN">pic.twitter.com/4E91zhpPDN
<p>— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://twitter.com/Gunnersc0m/status/1674694921200992259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 30, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<h2><strong>1. Play him as the holding midfielder</strong></h2>
<p>Perhaps the most natural and probable fit of all.</p>
<p>Rice regularly featured at the base of midfield last term and, as speculation grows over the future of <a title="4 clubs that could sign Thomas Partey this summer" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/17/4-clubs-sign-thomas-partey-summer/" rel="">Thomas Partey</a>, he will likely perform similar duties in the Arsenal engine room.</p>
<p>The no. 6 position would complement his style because Rice thrives when blocking off potential passing lanes and often makes vital interceptions to shut down transitional attacks – completing a league-high 63 interceptions in 2022/23.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the 24-year-old provides a lot in build-up phases as he can use both feet to bypass pressing forwards and never shies away from receiving the ball even in vulnerable areas, with physical strength helping him to shrug off any challenge.</p>
<p>A duel monster with sharp awareness and commendable discipline, Rice might help us scale new heights as the midfield linchpin.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 way Arsenal could deploy Rice </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135091" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135091" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1499837832-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1499837832-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1499837832-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1499837832-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1499837832-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Rice could replace Granit Xhaka. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2><strong>2. He can execute the box-to-box role</strong></h2>
<p>Despite being an obvious Partey replacement, Rice could be equally transformative as the successor to Granit Xhaka.</p>
<p>The presence of Partey (for now), Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny means Arsenal are arguably overstaffed in holding midfield and instead need to bolster their options at no. 8, an issue Rice himself can certainly fix.</p>
<p>Our soon-to-be record purchase ranks among the best progressive midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues and would no doubt benefit from Mikel Arteta’s positional structure. He invariably drives forward upon recovering the ball and makes late runs into the box to provide an outlet, whilst also dribbling and combining with teammates to fashion goalscoring opportunities.</p>
<p>Additionally, the 3-2-5 formation we favour in possession allows Rice to venture forward without compromising our collective solidity, and he has the engine to recover quickly if the ball is lost high up the pitch.</p>
<p><a title="Kai Havertz arrives at Arsenal with a big point to prove" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/29/kai-havertz-arrives-arsenal-big-point-prove/" rel="">Havertz’s arrival </a>indicates Rice may not be deployed here, but he can do the job if required and at least allows for rotation.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 way Arsenal could deploy Rice </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135218" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135218" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1496764366-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1496764366-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1496764366-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1496764366-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1496764366-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Rice often partnered Tomas Soucek in a double pivot at West Ham. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2><strong>3. Include him as part of a double pivot</strong></h2>
<p>Rice could even work in tandem with his prospective teammates!</p>
<p>Although Arsenal typically opt for free-flowing, possession-based football, clashes with tougher opponents may prompt a more conservative approach and force us to pack greater numbers into the middle.</p>
<p>Certain game-states cause the Gunners to form a 4-4-2 block in a bid to withstand pressure, and this system relies on two central midfielders with strong defensive instincts for success – something Rice offers in abundance thanks to his proficiency at centre-back.</p>
<p>The double pivot would enable our midfield to cover vast swathes of the pitch and boost their chances of winning the second ball. Meanwhile, Rice boasts immense composure in possession and would therefore offer security to progress play through the thirds against high-pressing opposition, and the company of a midfield partner would provide him with essential cover in case possession is lost.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="9P8uu9g1PU"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/29/declan-rice-arsenal-biggest-signing-mesut-ozil/">Declan Rice is Arsenal’s biggest signing since Mesut Ozil</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“Declan Rice is Arsenal’s biggest signing since Mesut Ozil” — Pain in the Arsenal" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/30/3-ways-arsenal-can-deploy-declan-rice-next-season/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/29/declan-rice-arsenal-biggest-signing-mesut-ozil/embed/#?secret=gPK2iqDXoE#?secret=9P8uu9g1PU" data-secret="9P8uu9g1PU" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>Tactical versatility is a key criterion for Arteta, and Rice’s ability to work alone or in a pairing greatly enhances his appeal.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
