Mikel Arteta thoroughly disagrees after hearing what Arsenal star Declan Rice said
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Declan Rice are often on the same page.
The England international is the most expensive signing in the Gunners’ history and is always among the first names on the team sheet.
Rice has been sensational since joining Arsenal, but his performances this season appear to have reached a new level.
The former West Ham player felt the reason for his improvement was a change made by Arteta, but the Arsenal manager doesn’t think so.
Since the start of this season, Declan Rice seems to have had more freedom to attack and defend.
The Englishman is capable of doing both extremely well, which is why he has been consistently brilliant in recent months.
During the October international break, Rice spoke about how Arteta has fine-tuned his role at Arsenal. He said: “I think the manager (Arteta) has adjusted my position a bit at Arsenal this year. It gives me more freedom to go deeper but also get into the box when I can, and it’s the same with Thomas (Tuchel).
“I think it really suits me, being on the left side of midfield, being able to come back and be a versatile action midfielder, that’s what I want to be.”
This was really interesting to hear earlier this month, but Mikel Arteta disagrees. He asserted that Rice’s position had not changed – he had simply evolved.
The Arsenal boss told a press conference, relayed on HaytersTV: “I’ve heard some quotes that he’s made that this season his position has changed a bit, and I don’t agree with that because his position has evolved and he’s becoming a total player.
“A total player must be able to do as many things as possible, and he has the ability to do that.
“So it’s about developing a player, starting to bring something else to the team, and especially when you’re talking about scoring goals, threatening the opposition goal, even better, and he’s been instrumental in our improvement in that part of the game.”
Declan Rice on course to break his personal best at Arsenal again
Rice has been immense for Arsenal since joining the club in 2023, and he has added a lot to their game.
At West Ham, the Englishman was above all a defensive midfielder. However, under Arteta, Rice has added plenty of goals and assists to his game.
In his first season at Arsenal, Rice directly contributed to 17 goals in all competitions and followed that up with 19 goals and assists last season.
In the 2025/26 campaign, Rice already has five direct goal contributions to his name.
If he continues at the same pace, he will finish the season with over 20 goals and assists, which would be his best return ever.