Declan Rice has finally settled the debate; the Arsenal and England midfield general has revealed the position where he feels “unstoppable.”
Fresh from captaining England in their dominant 3-0 friendly win over Wales on Thursday night, Rice opened up about his evolving role for both club and country.
The 26-year-old played 69 minutes in the victory, later describing the captaincy as “an honour” on Instagram, a clear sign of his growing leadership influence within the national setup.
Since his £105 million move from West Ham United in July 2023, Rice has transformed into one of the world’s most complete midfielders.
His commanding presence and tireless energy have been instrumental for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Gareth Southgate’s England, both of whom see him as central to their pursuit of trophies.
Speaking after the match, Rice provided insight into where he believes he truly thrives on the pitch.
“I can play number six or number eight. I think now I am more of a box-to-box number eight,” Rice said. “The manager has adjusted my position at Arsenal a bit this year, given me a bit more freedom to drop deep but also get in the box when I can.”
It’s a subtle shift that has unlocked the best version of the England star. Rice’s ability to dominate defensively while also driving forward with purpose has made him an all-action midfielder, something he clearly relishes.
“It is the same with Thomas. I think that really suits me on the left side of midfield. Being able to get back, being an all-round action midfielder is what I want to be, and I am just enjoying my football.”
That joy is evident in his performances. Under both Arteta and Southgate, Rice has found consistency and clarity in his game, and it shows.
“I have got two managers who lay it out really easily with the game plan, what I have to do and where I have to be,” he explained. “Obviously, I am the one who has to go and execute it, but when you have confidence in football, you feel unstoppable at times.”
Rice also reflected on his form, admitting that while his start to the current season wasn’t perfect, he’s now back to his best.
“I ended the season really strong last year and probably didn’t start one or two games of this season as good as I wanted, but I have picked up my form now. I feel really strong and I feel fit, really confident in my game and hopefully the only way is up from here for England and Arsenal.”
With that mindset, and his ever-growing influence in midfield, Declan Rice looks set to drive both Arsenal and England to greater heights this season.
