Declan Rice has been criticized by Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville for his ability on the ball. The midfielder’s style was the topic of a heated debate between Neville and other former players on The Overlap show.
Rice has started for England and Arsenal since moving to the Emirates and is rated as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Neville questions midfielder’s ability
The former England international questioned Rice’s ability to play in a deep midfield role like some of the best in Europe. He was debating the topic with Paul Scholes and Roy Keane on The Overlap.
“I don’t think he can get the ball off the back four like a Rodri can.”
“I’m not saying he’s not a competent player [at No6]. . .I’m talking about in the tournament when he’ll get on the ball, get us playing, keep us moving, get us playing,”
“I’m not sure that’s what he does!”
Jamie Carragher interrupted and defended Rice, saying he provides a lot to the Arsenal midfield, comparing him to Roy Keane back in the day:
“When you go back to when you were playing, Roy, you think of [Bryan] Robson, yourself, Incey [Paul Ince] in there. . .you didn’t say, ‘He’s a holder [etc].’ You were just a midfield player.
“And I know the game [today]. . .someone’s a six, someone’s an eight, someone’s a 10 and all that, but I think [Rice] can [do it all]. You [Keane] would get back and defend, get forward in attack. . .he’s that midfield player, for me, that can do both.”
Premier League winner sings praises of Declan Rice
Rice has been compared to the league’s best midfielders past and present in the last few seasons after his fantastic season at West Ham United in 2022/23 helped them lift the UEFA Europa Conference League. Later that summer, Rice secured a big money move to Arsenal.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri played down comparisons between himself and Arsenal’s Declan Rice; stating that the two were different players. The EURO 2024 winner also praised Rice for his unique ability on the pitch:
“If you ask me names I think I would be not fair because I will leave some ones that deserve, but I don’t know. Let’s say right now, Declan I like a lot, what he does, even though he’s not the same role I do.” Rodri said speaking to ESPN.
“I love Jorginho, when he was in the best shape.
“Who else? In the past for example, I always said Busquets, Casemiro, Xabi Alonso, these kind of players that they can manage the game.”
Rodri and Declan Rice will go head-to-head when Manchester City host the Gunners at the Etihad in over a week.
