Mikel Arteta can now unleash Arsenal’s own Jude Bellingham with one tactical change as Trossard is out injured
Arsenal feel that club-record signing Declan Rice’s attacking game has the potential to explode, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. The Gunners recruited Rice from West Ham United for a whopping £105million during the summer transfer window and the England international has immediately hit the ground running at the Emirates Stadium.
The tough-tackling midfielder has performed consistently in the heart of Mikel Arteta’s side, showcasing his rare blend of impressive ball-carrying, intelligent reading of the game and powerful defensive qualities. But the north London outfit are confident that the 24-year-old’s attacking game has the potential to grow, as per Jacobs.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, he said: “I would be reticent to compare Rice and (Jude) Bellingham directly. But the point of saying this is that if you look at Bellingham at Dortmund, he scored eight league goals over the course of 31 games in his final season.
“At Real Madrid, he has been given more license to push forwards and be more explosive. He sees more of the ball and has others working on the ball for him, which allows him to create more space than at Dortmund.
“He has already got eight goals in La Liga, which is the same total as he got in the Bundesliga at Dortmund last season, but in way fewer games. I think Arsenal feel like, to some extent, Rice has that potential to suddenly explode in an attacking sense if he is given that freedom.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he is given a bit more freedom and trialled in a more advanced position, especially because others in that central attacking midfield role – when utilised – haven’t always excelled.” Arsenal will certainly hope that Rice can replicate the kind of attacking output that Bellingham has managed since joining Madrid.
The talented youngster has already scored eight La Liga goals and netted twice in the UEFA Champions League this season. Of course, it seems unlikely that Rice could produce those sort of numbers but Thomas Partey’s return to fitness will certainly allow him to take up more advanced positions.
If Partey was to start as Arsenal’s holding midfielder, Rice could operate in a similar role to the one Granit Xhaka occupied for the Gunners last term, with the Swiss captain netting seven goals and seven assists in the Premier League last season from left-central-midfield.
