Even as England came within touching distance again of ending their long trophy drought, no one could realistically claim that Declan Rice performed at his very best over in Germany.
Overshadowed by teenager Kobbie Mainoo in the heart of Gareth Southgate’s midfield, there were a few loose touches, a collection of misplaced passes, and an error which could have cost the Three Lions dear in the semi-finals of the European Championships.
Declan Rice was muscled off the ball as Xavi Simons rattled home a stunner with just seven minutes on the clock against the Netherlands.
Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit struggled to even ‘recognise’ a player who shone so brightly at Arsenal.
And this is what Gary Neville is alluding to when he suggests that Rice – for all his talents – is not quite tailor-made for the number six role at the base of midfield.
What is Arsenal star Declan Rice’s best position?
The former Manchester United right-back believes that Arsenal’s £105 million record signing is far better suited as a box-to-box number eight. A role that perhaps best utilises Rice’s lung-busting dynamism and his often underrated ball-carrying talents.
Paul Scholes – a man who knows a thing or two about life as an elite-level midfielder – could not disagree more.
“I think it’s his best role, yeah,” Scholes tells The Overlap when asked by Neville if the deep-lying playmaker role is the right one for Arsenal’s number 41.
“That surprises me,” Neville responds. “I don’t think he can get the ball off the back four in the way in which a Rodri can.”
“I think he’s better in that left-side channel for Arsenal. I’m not saying he’s not a competent player in the (number) six. I’m talking about in the tournament, (can he) get on the ball, keep us moving, get control of the game? I’m not sure that’s what he does.
“Does he know how to receive the ball on the half-turn?”
Gary Neville and Paul Scholes disagree about England ace
Scholes, who won the majority of his 11 Premier League titles alongside Neville at Old Trafford, feels that the parts of Rice’s game Neville labels a weakness are actually the ex-West Ham captain’s ‘biggest strength’, even if he does have a habit of taking a few touches too many at times.
One of the finest goalscoring midfielders of the modern era also has doubts about whether Rice can stump up the sort of numbers required in a more attack-minded position.
“When you talk about a midfielder running (towards the goal), you think he’s got to be scoring you 15, 20 goals a season,” Scholes argues. “I can’t see Declan Rice doing that.”
With seven in 51 games, the 2023/24 campaign was Rice’s most prolific so far.
The London-born 25-year-old may be under pressure to add a few more goals to his game in the coming months, however. Especially if Martin Odegaard is consigned to an extended period on the sidelines with a painful ankle injury he picked up on Norway duty a few days ago.
Arsenal will be without both Rice and Odegaard in Sunday’s North London derby.
With the latter injured, the former is suspended. Rice picked up a contentious red card in the 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion last time out.
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