Graeme Souness has claimed Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice would not get into the Manchester City team. The football legend made the comments while criticising the England international's tendency to play too deep, even suggesting he might be better suited as a centre-half.
Souness delivered a scathing assessment of the 27-year-old. He argued that while Rice is the best defensive midfielder in the country, his positioning limits his impact. "I'm not sure if he gets in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Man City," Souness said. The pundit specifically pointed to the quality in Manchester City's midfield, referencing players like Fernandinho and Rodri as examples of the standard required.
What did Souness say about Declan Rice's playing style?
Souness's core criticism centred on Rice's positioning. He stated the Arsenal player operates too deep to truly influence matches at the highest level. The former Liverpool midfielder recounted an incident where Rice was allegedly "eviscerated" by teammates at half-time for dropping back to make short, ten-metre passes between the centre-back and full-back. Souness linked this tendency to a broader issue, claiming that when England went 1-0 up against Argentina, they "collapsed" because Rice and Elliot Anderson played too deep. "He's not a midfield player then is he? I think he may be a centre-half," Souness concluded.
How has Declan Rice performed for Arsenal?
Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham United in 2023 for a club-record fee of £105 million. His first season at the Emirates was largely successful; he played 55 games in all competitions and was instrumental in Arsenal winning their first Premier League title in 22 years. He also helped guide England to the World Cup semi-finals last summer. This season, Arsenal have won all three of their opening league matches against Coventry, Aston Villa, and Chelsea. Those results leave them second in the table, trailing only Manchester City on goals scored. You can see the full standings on our site.
What is the context around Arsenal and Manchester City?
The criticism comes as Manchester City continue to set the pace in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola's side are currently top with a perfect record of three wins from three, having scored seven goals and conceded just two. Their next test is a significant away fixture against Manchester United on September 13th. Arsenal, meanwhile, are preparing for a busy schedule. They face Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday before a league trip to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Mikel Arteta also bolstered his midfield options this summer with the £75 million signing of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle, though the Brazilian started on the bench in the recent win over Chelsea.
Where does this leave Declan Rice?
At 27, Rice is in his prime and remains a key figure for both club and country. Souness's comments, while harsh, highlight the intense scrutiny that comes with a nine-figure transfer fee and the expectation to deliver in the biggest games. For Manchester City, the debate serves as a reminder of the elite standards maintained in their squad, which currently sits first with nine points. The team's fixtures show a important derby ahead, while their defensive solidity is reflected in the stats this season. Arsenal's next league match is away to Sunderland this Saturday.
