“We’re not using him in that manner" - Arsenal legend claims Declan Rice 'was being asked to do too much' by England at Euro 2024
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has slammed England boss Gareth Southgate over his use of midfield maestro Declan Rice at Euro 2024. The Arsenal midfielder has played every minute for the Three Lions as they have reached the final of the tournament for a second successive edition.
Rice led West Ham United to win a first-ever European title as captain in the 2022-23 season as they won the UEFA Europa Conference League. He then joined Arsenal ahead of the 2023-24 season. He played a starring role for the Gunners as they finished the Premier League in second place and reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.
Declan Rice is among the mainstays in Southgate's England team and is one of the first names on the team sheet. The versatile midfielder has impressed in the tournament, but Keown is unhappy with the things Gareth Southgate has asked of him. Speaking on talkSPORT, the Arsenal legend accused the manager of mismanaging Rice and giving him too much to do in the team.
HE said:
“He plays alongside [Martin Odegaard at Arsenal], so maybe [Thomas] Partey or Jorginho sits there [in lone defensive midfield role]. It allows Declan, with the incredible range he has of running, to get up and down.
“We’re not using him in that manner, we’re using him to play quite deep. And I felt in the earlier games, he had two players either side of him and was being asked to do too much.”
Declan Rice has been one of the standout performers in the tournament, making more tackles than any other player. He has also completed 449 passes, the third most in the tournament, and won the ball 14 times in the middle third.
Arsenal ace Declan Rice hails teenage sensation over Euro 2024 displays
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has hailed midfield partner Kobbie Mainoo over the quality of his performances at Euro 2024. The Manchester United man has broken into the England starting XI at the tournament in recent games, having started the competition on the bench.
The youngest member of the England squad at 19, Mainoo has been largely unfazed as he has started in all of the Three Lions' knockout games. Declan Rice spoke with the BBC about the teenager, saying that they have formed a nice partnership in the middle of the park.
He said:
"You can just see. You speak to him and just feel his calm presence that he has and what I like about him is that he is not scared to say it how it is. There was something towards the end [against the Netherlands] when he gave me a pass between the lines and I got sold short for it.
"We had to sprint back and we had bit at each other - but that is good because you need that relationship. "
He added:
"At 19, I can't imagine many saying that to older players and that's what I love about him. That is what the lads love about him as well. He gets that respect, he has that leadership and the way he takes the ball and is comfortable.
"The conversations we've been having daily with each other and on the training pitch have brought us together and we have become a nice partnership."
Kobbie Mainoo caught the eye of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag during the 2023-24 season and has not looked back since then. The teenager has earned the trust of his manager and teammates at the Euros, earning starts ahead of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher.