LONDON — Before Arsenal played Brentford, the team lineup showed many changes, as they seemed to be thinking about their upcoming game. Interestingly, Declan Rice was not rested, even though he probably deserved a break after his strong performance earlier in the week. Keeping Rice in the starting lineup wasn`t just about showing appreciation from the home fans when his name was announced.
When Bukayo Saka got injured around Christmas, and Martin Odegaard wasn`t playing as well as he had before, Arsenal needed someone to step up and lead the team. Declan Rice became that player. It`s still debated whether he`s best as a defensive midfielder or an attacking midfielder, but he`s so versatile that he can play either role depending on what the coach needs. What`s become clear, especially when the attack is struggling, is that Rice can contribute significantly in the attacking part of the field.
More than just filling in for Saka, Rice has shaped Arsenal`s playing style. In the 1-1 draw against Brentford, Arsenal created threats, especially with crosses from the right side towards the far post. They also caused Brentford problems with set pieces. Rice even nearly scored directly from a corner kick, after scoring twice from free kicks against another team recently.
The first goal showed Rice`s incredible energy and running ability. He carried the ball from deep in Arsenal`s half, got past a defender, and held onto the ball just long enough for Thomas Partey to run past him and shoot at the goal. This happened just a few days after Rice had run over six miles in a game and had a foot problem. His coach described this play as `unbelievable`.
Arsenal doesn`t often attack with fast breaks because teams usually defend against them carefully. However, they might get more chances to do so in their next game, especially if the other team pushes forward and leaves space. If there’s open space, expect Rice to take advantage of it.
The coach mentioned that he wants to see more of these kinds of runs from Rice, depending on how the opponent plays. He explained that when they can get past the opponent`s initial pressure, especially when the other team tries to mark tightly, it creates space for runs, like the situation that led to their goal.
At only 26 years old, Rice seems to be constantly improving. He keeps showing new and impressive aspects of his game. He probably had the ability to make runs and passes like the one for the goal even when he played for his previous team, but he`s using these skills more often now. His shooting has definitely gotten better since he joined Arsenal.
Rice has become a complete midfielder, involved in both defense and attack. Since Saka`s injury, his touches in the opponent`s penalty area have increased, along with his expected goals, chances created, and forward runs with the ball. These are usually the kinds of things Saka leads Arsenal in when he`s playing. Rice has stepped up to cover for Saka`s absence.
Rice also reflects another aspect of Arsenal`s current situation. Their attacking play has been good, including the assist in this game, but it could be even better. In this game, Arsenal had 14 shots, but the expected goals from these shots was only 0.82. This might often be enough to win if they defend well. Arsenal has had seven games this season where they limited opponents to very few scoring chances. However, in those games, Arsenal`s own scoring has been just average, and they`ve drawn several of them.
In this game, Brentford scored their goal from their third shot, with Wissa scoring after a cross. Adding to Arsenal`s difficulties this season, they finished the game with 10 players because of an injury after they had already used all their substitutions. That`s just how things are going for Arsenal this season.
Despite these challenges, if Rice keeps playing at this level when Saka is fully fit and Odegaard is back to his best form, this season can still be successful. If they can reduce the pressure on Rice and support him better, it`s exciting to think about how much he and the team can achieve.
