Sport nation‘He won’t be world class’: Owen Hargreaves issues controversial take on English star at ArsenalPhoto by James Gill
Rio Ferdinand also has spoken highly of Arsenal this season
Mon 4 September 2023 17:45, UK
Owen Hargreaves says Declan Rice ‘won’t be world-class’ at Arsenal if Mikel Arteta continues to use him further forward in midfield, even though he ‘likes’ him in that role and believes he can play that role.
The former Bayern Munich star, who likened Arsenal’s club-record transfer to Rodri, thinks he can become ‘world-class’ if he plays purely as a defensive-minded player, as he told Premier League Productions (04/09/23 at 2:10 pm).
That was Declan Rice’s role at West Ham United, but now he is playing in a more dominant team, it has allowed the Englishman to roam forward, like Granit Xhaka used to do last season.
As a result, the 24-year-old is hoping to improve his goalscoring numbers, with his winning goal against Manchester United on Sunday helping matters – Ian Wright feels the player is going under the radar.
That’s probably a sign of things to come because he has transitioned from a defensive-minded team pushing for Europe to a very attack-minded system pushing for the Premier League title.
Those very late three points against Manchester United keeps Arsenal on that road, with Hargreaves praising Rice as a popular and ‘super’ player, but he issued a controversial take on his possible world-class status.
Arsenal FC v Manchester United – Premier League
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
“First of all, everybody loves Declan because he is such a lovely guy,” said Hargreaves. “Even for us when we do interviews.
“He is a super player. I don’t think he is going to be world-class as an eight. I think he is world-class as a defensive midfield player. A bit like Rodri.
“It’s interesting that Mikel has played him further forward because he is trying to get a bit more out of him, which I like. I do think Dec can do it. He can add more goals and he can add more assists, but a team like Arsenal, they have a lot more of the ball, so he can get higher and he can get into the box.
“At West Ham, he couldn’t do that, so I love Declan. I think he deserves the opportunity to compete for trophies and I think his personality, a bit like Jude Bellingham, he has this inner desire to not be content. I like that. He is in the perfect place.”
Manchester City v Real Madrid Semi Final Leg One – UEFA Champions League
Photo by James Gill
Encouraging start for Rice
Even though there was a lot of limelight on Rice’s name when he swapped West Ham colours for Arsenal, as of this moment, he is taking it all in his stride.
That goal against Manchester United just adds the cherry on top of the cake, but whilst one summer signing thrives, another is struggling, big time!
Kai Havertz just can’t seem to get going after he joined from Chelsea, with Michael Owen stating his actions yesterday against Man United is something he has never seen a professional footballer do.
‘He won’t be world class’: Owen Hargreaves issues controversial take on English star at ArsenalPhoto by James Gill
Mon 4 September 2023 17:45, UK
Owen Hargreaves says Declan Rice ‘won’t be world-class’ at Arsenal if Mikel Arteta continues to use him further forward in midfield, even though he ‘likes’ him in that role and believes he can play that role.
The former Bayern Munich star, who likened Arsenal’s club-record transfer to Rodri, thinks he can become ‘world-class’ if he plays purely as a defensive-minded player, as he told Premier League Productions (04/09/23 at 2:10 pm).
That was Declan Rice’s role at West Ham United, but now he is playing in a more dominant team, it has allowed the Englishman to roam forward, like Granit Xhaka used to do last season.
As a result, the 24-year-old is hoping to improve his goalscoring numbers, with his winning goal against Manchester United on Sunday helping matters – Ian Wright feels the player is going under the radar.
That’s probably a sign of things to come because he has transitioned from a defensive-minded team pushing for Europe to a very attack-minded system pushing for the Premier League title.
Those very late three points against Manchester United keeps Arsenal on that road, with Hargreaves praising Rice as a popular and ‘super’ player, but he issued a controversial take on his possible world-class status.
Arsenal FC v Manchester United – Premier League
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
“First of all, everybody loves Declan because he is such a lovely guy,” said Hargreaves. “Even for us when we do interviews.
“He is a super player. I don’t think he is going to be world-class as an eight. I think he is world-class as a defensive midfield player. A bit like Rodri.
“It’s interesting that Mikel has played him further forward because he is trying to get a bit more out of him, which I like. I do think Dec can do it. He can add more goals and he can add more assists, but a team like Arsenal, they have a lot more of the ball, so he can get higher and he can get into the box.
“At West Ham, he couldn’t do that, so I love Declan. I think he deserves the opportunity to compete for trophies and I think his personality, a bit like Jude Bellingham, he has this inner desire to not be content. I like that. He is in the perfect place.”
Manchester City v Real Madrid Semi Final Leg One – UEFA Champions League
Photo by James Gill
Encouraging start for Rice
Even though there was a lot of limelight on Rice’s name when he swapped West Ham colours for Arsenal, as of this moment, he is taking it all in his stride.
That goal against Manchester United just adds the cherry on top of the cake, but whilst one summer signing thrives, another is struggling, big time!
Kai Havertz just can’t seem to get going after he joined from Chelsea, with Michael Owen stating his actions yesterday against Man United is something he has never seen a professional footballer do.
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Sport nation