Arsenal believe summer signing could 'explode' like Bellingham at Real Madrid

Cameron Smith

Updated: 16 Oct 2023 05:59 CDT
4 min read

Arsenal reportedly believe that Declan Rice could “explode” if Mikel Arteta deploys him in a more advanced role than the one he’s played since his summer move from West Ham.

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Rice, 24, cost the Gunners a whopping €116.6 million during the most recent transfer window, with West Ham holding out for a huge fee for their then-captain.

Since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium, Rice has slotted in seamlessly into Arteta’s midfield and has shone from a defensive perspective.

He has not found the step up to Arsenal tricky and already looks to be one of the Gunners’ most important players.

However, Ben Jacobs has told GiveMeSport that Arsenal think Rice has the potential to evolve into a more attacking midfielder.

"I would be reticent to compare [Declan] Rice and [Jude] Bellingham directly,” Jacobs said. “But the point of saying this is that if you look at Bellingham at Dortmund, he scored eight league goals over the course of 31 games in his final season.

“At Real Madrid, he has been given more licence to push forwards and be more explosive. He sees more of the ball and has others working on the ball for him, which allows him to create more space than at Dortmund.

"He has already got eight goals in La Liga, which is the same total as he got in the Bundesliga at Dortmund last season, but in way fewer games.

© ProShots - Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid

"I think Arsenal feel like, to some extent, Rice has that potential to suddenly explode in an attacking sense if he is given that freedom.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he is given a bit more freedom and trialled in a more advanced position, especially because others in that central attacking midfield role - when utilised - haven't always excelled.”

Arsenal to sign Vermeeren?

It comes after news that Arsenal hope to sign Royal Antwerp wonderkid Arthur Vermeeren to act as a foil for Rice to push into more advanced positions.

That is according to TEAMTalk’s Dean Jones, who has reported that Rice will be given more attacking licence in the coming years when his influence at Arsenal reaches its peak.

© ProShots - Arsenal want to sign Arthur Vermeeren

The Gunners reportedly believe that signing another defensive-minded midfielder will unlock Rice’s full potential and will likely see him deployed in a role similar to the one he would have played at Manchester City had he replaced Ilkay Gundogan as Pep Guardiola wanted.