Declan Rice: Bend It Like Decam

[Blood on the Tracks]

He was decent tonight.

You could tell the few times he bursted forwards that's where his danger comes from, as a 6 you are limiting him too much.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

I still hold him responsible for thier goal you can't leave that area when on form player like Dembele is free.

Apart from that he was one of our best players

 

[BigPoppaPump]

Btw you kept arguing that Rice couldn’t be a DLP at the 6. Nobody bar a few optimists ever thought he’d be that player.

Doesn’t really matter if it’s a DLP or ABC it’s the position.

I think it’s obvious why Partey is preferred there.

 

[ArsenalInMyHeart]

Rice is just incredible

 

[Iwobeast]

Hitting another level this season

 

[Sanchez11]

Should be captain, leads by example.

 

[Geofranco]

Rice is just incredible

He does well in open games, but is not world class against mid and low block teams which is what Arsenal will face the majority of times. With Saka injured for the majority of the season and Ødegaard in poor form after his injury, it's not surprising the team has had so many draws. Saka, Ødegaard, Partey, White and now MLS are the best on the team playing mid and low block teams

 

[ArsenalInMyHeart]

He does well in open games, but is not world class against mid and low block teams which is what Arsenal will face the majority of times. With Saka injured for the majority of the season and Ødegaard in poor form after his injury, it's not surprising the team has had so many draws. Saka, Ødegaard, Partey, White and now MLS are the best on the team playing mid and low block teams

You ask too much he played at 6 yesterday. Dont add Ødegaard in this. You have to respect what Rice did.

 

[Dokaka]

He does well in open games, but is not world class against mid and low block teams which is what Arsenal will face the majority of times. With Saka injured for the majority of the season and Ødegaard in poor form after his injury, it's not surprising the team has had so many draws. Saka, Ødegaard, Partey, White and now MLS are the best on the team playing mid and low block teams

You do realize you're blaming Rice for the attacking deficiencies while mentioning 2 key attacking players missing/being horrible off form?

I'm not denying Rice isn't a world class playmaker but I just cannot understand why he keeps getting blamed for the attacking woes when the entire front 3 + Ødegaard has been missing, awful or injured all season.

Guess my point is there's literally 2-3 blatantly obvious problems that would massive improve the attack yet Rice keeps shouldering the blame for other players' woes.

 

[Geofranco]

You do realize you're blaming Rice for the attacking deficiencies while mentioning 2 key attacking players missing/being horrible off form?

I'm not denying Rice isn't a world class playmaker but I just cannot understand why he keeps getting blamed for the attacking woes when the entire front 3 + Ødegaard has been missing, awful or injured all season.

Guess my point is there's literally 2-3 blatantly obvious problems that would massive improve the attack yet Rice keeps shouldering the blame for other players' woes.

I'm not blaming Rice for anything he has been one of the players of the season (alongside Big Gabi, Raya and Timber). Started slow, but has been great since January at least. I'm just pointing out why I dont think he is a 100 million man. When he does not have the biggest impact on majority of the teams Arsenal will face every season. He will do well in big games that are open, but will barely ever give you a great performance against those pesky mid and low block teams. If he was better in tight spaces, more creative and more agile, he'd be the perfect midfielder. That's why the team needs a LW who is more technical and creative, a CF that can finish half chances and create opportunities for themselves too. Another holding mid to take over when Partey leaves and we are set. Maybe another attacking mid if Arteta doesn't trust Nwaneri in that role. Ødegaard needs rest, rotation and competition.

 

[Heavy Duty Rom]

Should be captain, leads by example.

Tried to be a hero twice for their goal. Thats not leading by example, that’s main character syndrome.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Rice is just incredible

That save is actually amazing

 

[Sanchez11]

Tried to be a hero twice for their goal. Thats not leading by example, that’s main character syndrome.

You are moaning about one game?

 

[GoonerJay24]

I'm not blaming Rice for anything he has been one of the players of the season (alongside Big Gabi, Raya and Timber). Started slow, but has been great since January at least. I'm just pointing out why I dont think he is a 100 million man. When he does not have the biggest impact on majority of the teams Arsenal will face every season. He will do well in big games that are open, but will barely ever give you a great performance against those pesky mid and low block teams. If he was better in tight spaces, more creative and more agile, he'd be the perfect midfielder. That's why the team needs a LW who is more technical and creative, a CF that can finish half chances and create opportunities for themselves too. Another holding mid to take over when Partey leaves and we are set. Maybe another attacking mid if Arteta doesn't trust Nwaneri in that role. Ødegaard needs rest, rotation and competition.

Exactly why his price tag was always a problem; lacks the fundamentals to consistently impact our system.

Price matters hugely. Changes a players squad position from Rotational to key starting player. Thus we can't afford to occasionally drop Rice cause they need to maintain his value and recoup when possible.

He's played well and stood out for a couple of months tbh; but that's individually. Collectively the midfield balance has been off and lacks the synergy of 22/23 season.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

His skillset suits someone playing further up the field, not sure why people want him as a 6 he can’t receive the ball from the goalkeepers and defenders.

 

[Heavy Duty Rom]

You are moaning about one game?

It’s just an observation. Weak fans get sucked in when they hear things like “we don’t have the ball we die” or “nothing to fear let’s go”

You want a real ‘leader’ look at someone like Timber.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

It’s just an observation. Weak fans get sucked in when they hear things like “we don’t have the ball we die” or “nothing to fear let’s go”

You want a real ‘leader’ look at someone like Timber.

They want Rice as captain for the same reason they wanted Tierney as captain.

Really it should be Saka or Gabby M as next captain but they’re not the corrected demographic.

 

[Heavy Duty Rom]

They want Rice as captain for the same reason they wanted Tierney as captain.

Really it should be Saka or Gabby M as next captain but they’re not the corrected demographic.

While he’s in the team, I think Ødegaard is a fine captain tbh. Not keen on Saka. Timber would be the one for me, Calm but aggressive, helps the young players, speaks well, goes to some womens games, he’s really embraced the club, he just has a nice way about him.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

While he’s in the team, I think Ødegaard is a fine captain tbh. Not keen on Saka. Timber would be the one for me, Calm but aggressive, helps the young players, speaks well, goes to some womens games, he’s really embraced the club, he just has a nice way about him.

Saka deserves so much better man.

 

[Heavy Duty Rom]

Exactly why his price tag was always a problem; lacks the fundamentals to consistently impact our system.

Price matters hugely. Changes a players squad position from Rotational to key starting player. Thus we can't afford to occasionally drop Rice cause they need to maintain his value and recoup when possible.

He's played well and stood out for a couple of months tbh; but that's individually. Collectively the midfield balance has been off and lacks the synergy of 22/23 season.

I get where you are coming from. He’s very good, but it’s not an easy job to balance the team for how we want to play with him and Ødegaard in the midfield. Right now, you feel the balance/quality of the midfield/attack isn’t right, especially without natural full backs.

On the left, with Rice, I feel we’d be better off with an old style Wenger Creative winger, who ticks in and creates, and behind him would have to be a an overlapping full back.