Mikel Arteta’s concerns about Declan Rice have been heightened after the midfielder’s underwhelming starting debut.
Arsenal signed Rice from West Ham for a record-breaking fee of £105 million, beating off competition from Manchester City.
Rice joined his new teammates on their pre-season tour of the USA and made his debut against the MLS All-Stars.
He was then named in the starting XI against Manchester United, but the game did not go as planned.
Alongside new arrivals Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard in midfield, Rice struggled to find his rhythm, allowing Man United to dominate the game.
This highlighted the importance of keeping Thomas Partey at the club, as he provides a crucial balance in midfield.
Despite interest from Juventus and a Saudi Arabian club, Partey is set to stay at Arsenal.
Arteta has expressed his desire to keep Partey in the team, stating that he is a “super important player” for the club.
With Rice’s potential role in a more advanced position, there are concerns about his ability to adapt to Arteta’s fast-paced style of play.
Paul Merson, a former Arsenal defender, expressed his worries about Rice needing time to adjust to Arsenal’s style, which is faster than what he is used to at West Ham and with the England national team.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
