Declan Rice will be resting up now after the most gruelling campaign of his career for Arsenal and England.
This time last summer, the Europa Conference League winner was securing a club-record transfer from West Ham United to Arsenal.
Despite that huge price-tag over Declan Rice’s head, he proved his worth under Mikel Arteta and helped them improve from the previous campaign.
Although, it wasn’t enough as Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title to Manchester City, once again.
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Exactly what Arsenal fans thought of Rice before he put on their colours is exactly what they thought of him once the season had concluded.
A dominant midfielder, who was one the best players in the Premier League last term, and now producing at the highest level.
But England’s defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024 seems to have put a question mark on the midfielder’s head.
From the perspective of his club fans, they are in no doubt that Rice is still of high, high quality and they will defend their player all the way.
But not every fan is thinking that way, with England’s overall performance under Gareth Southgate at the European Championships not helping matters.
The Arsenal star was dubbed ‘not good enough’, ‘overrated’ and how he has ‘no skill, guile, killer pass and can’t dictate a game like Rodri or Toni Kroos’.
When Jeff Stelling and Paul Merson heard that, they were left in disbelief and they were sure to defend the player, as they told Football’s Greatest.
Is Declan Rice overrated?
“Crickey, you aren’t a Declan Rice fan, are you?!” responded Stelling to the Rice bashing. “That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it, Merse?”
Merson added: “Wow, cor, not many. World-class is a hard one because it’s used very loosely. World-class is like a Rodri, he gets into every team in the world. That’s world-class. I felt sorry for Declan Rice (at Euro 2024). I don’t think he is a holding midfield player. I think he is one of the eights now. I think he is a better player where he can burst forward.”
Declan Rice needs to prove people wrong
The only way to do that is by winning trophies and the biggest of them all is the Premier League title.
It doesn’t help matters that Graeme Souness thinks Rice is a ‘centre-half’ because he was one of the best midfielders to have ever played the game.
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But this forthcoming season is going to be crucial for Arsenal because fans have been very patient with Arteta.
Sources have told HITC that Arsenal agreed a fee in principle with Bologna for Riccardo Calafiori, as they are set to add to their already tight and error-free defence.
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