Graeme Souness has launched fresh criticism of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, questioning his role and suggesting he would not start for Europe's top clubs. The Liverpool legend made the comments on Piers Morgan's Football Uncensored show, reported by Daily Mail Sport this week.
Arsenal are currently second in the Premier League with nine points from three wins, having scored six goals and conceded just one. They face Sunderland away on Saturday as they look to maintain their perfect start, a run detailed on the club's fixtures page.
What did Graeme Souness say about Declan Rice?
Souness argued that the England international operates too defensively for a player in his position. "How many times do you see him as the last man with the ball," Souness said. "In the build-up, he's last man. He's sitting between two centre-halves or between the centre-half and the full-back." The pundit suggested Rice's deep positioning prevents him from influencing matches in the final third. He even speculated that Rice's future might lie at centre-back.
Souness also directly compared Rice to players at the clubs he considers the world's best. "I'm not sure if he gets in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Man City," he stated. He pointed to Manchester City's recent history with Fernandinho and Rodri as examples of superior defensive midfielders who truly operated in the engine room. This critique comes despite Rice's instrumental role in Arsenal's Premier League title win last season, their first in 22 years.
How has Declan Rice performed for Arsenal?
Since his £105 million move from West Ham in 2023, Rice has been a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta's side. He played 55 games in his debut campaign, helping secure the league title. He carried that form into the summer, aiding England's run to the World Cup semi-finals. This season, he has started all three league matches as part of an unbeaten side that sits just behind Manchester City in the standings. Arsenal's defensive solidity is being tested, however, with William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera currently sidelined, as noted on the injuries list.
What is the context for Souness's latest comments?
This is not the first time Souness has taken aim at Rice. He previously criticised the player's role in England's World Cup semi-final collapse against Argentina. His latest remarks follow Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Chelsea and come ahead of a busy period featuring a Champions League clash with Napoli. The club bolstered its midfield options this summer with the £75 million signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle, adding competition and depth to the squad.
Where does Arsenal go from here?
The team's immediate focus is on maintaining their strong league position. Their next challenge is a trip to the Stadium of Light to face 12th-placed Sunderland on September 12. With a perfect record and a +5 goal difference, the squad will be aiming to continue their momentum before the European fixtures intensify. The full squad will be needed to navigate this period successfully.
Arsenal's next match is away to Sunderland on Saturday, September 12.
