Declan Rice has gone from Mikel Arteta’s “lighthouse” to something even bigger — the best midfield player in the Premier League “by a long way,” according to Jamie Carragher. So how is Arteta getting even more from the 27-year-old this season?
Declan Rice (Credits: BBC Sport)
Arteta Tells Rice He’s No Longer the Lighthouse — And Demands More
Rice has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers as the Gunners stormed to the top of the Premier League, and he was player of the match as Arsenal beat Liverpool on Sunday. He already has five assists in the league this season — the most of any player — and all of them have come from open play after Arteta changed his role.
Arteta revealed he sat Rice down at the start of the season and told him he was no longer the “lighthouse” — the nickname Arteta had given him — and that he expected more. Arteta said he will reveal Rice’s new nickname at the end of the season, but the message clearly stuck.
Rice Thrives in a Freer Role With Bruno Guimaraes Alongside
“The way I’ve started this season is the position that suits me the most,” Rice told Match of the Day. “This season I’ve really tried to attack that part going forward, trying to come up with assists, create chances, create moments.”
The key tactical shift is the signing of Bruno Guimaraes, which allows Rice to take up positions higher up the pitch instead of always anchoring the base of the midfield. Opposition managers have noted how hard Arsenal’s rotating midfield is to defend against.
Guimaraes’ arrival has also given Rice rest in the EFL Cup — welcome relief after 55 games for Arsenal last season and a World Cup semi-final run with England that took its toll on his hamstring.
Since joining the Gunners in 2023, Rice has scored and assisted 55 goals — an underrated output for a player whose energy is talked about more than his numbers. “He’s one of the best midfield players Arsenal have ever had,” Carragher said. “The best midfield player in the Premier League by a long way. It’s not even a debate.”
Talks over a new contract are ongoing — and Arteta says Rice “wants to continue here for the long term.”
Also Read: Boos at St James’ Park: Newcastle Fans Turn on Jaissle After Fourth Defeat in Six | Darren England Opens Up on the Diaz VAR Error That Stalled His Career: “That Was the Lowest Point”
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
