Declan Rice 'not allowed to move forward' at Arsenal

Stuart Telford

• 20 Aug 2023 08:42 BST
• 3 min read

Declan Rice's game at Arsenal will be restricted under Mikel Arteta, despite the club's £105 million outlay on him, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.

Rice became Arsenal's club record transfer in July when he arrived from West Ham, and with Thomas Partey staying at the Emirates despite interest from Saudi Arabia, there was significant hope the England midfielder's game would blossom.

With Partey anchoring the midfield, Rice has generally played on the left of a three so far, and there was optimism among some sections of the support that he could improve upon his five goals and four assists in all competitions last season - even if he remains, primarily, a defensive midfielder.

READ: 'Rice and Caicedo were better transfers than panic buy Casemiro'

But Agbonlahor, who had a goal and three assists in 19 career meetings with Arsenal, doesn't think that's the platform Arsenal intend to give Rice.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) June 22, 2023

Rice to do the dirty work

"Listen, Declan Rice is an outstanding player; he will help that Arsenal side a lot," he told talkSPORT. "But I think that Arsenal are going to be helped out by the goals of [Bukayo] Saka, [Gabriel] Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and [Eddie] Nketiah.

"I think Declan Rice is going to have a key role but more breaking up the play, maybe not allowed to go forward as much in certain games. Especially as Thomas Partey has injury problems. A great signing."

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Arsenal also added Kai Havertz this summer, paying Chelsea £65m for the Germany attacker's services, adding to the congestion up ahead for Rice.

The Gunners are expected to dip back into the market before the transfer window closes. Jurrien Timber, their third major arrival this summer, from Ajax, picked up an ACL injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest last Saturday, and a replacement is being sought.

Gabriel, Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares remain on the books, but Arteta is willing to sanction the sales off all three in order to raise funds for a player who fits his vision.