The argument around Declan Rice at right-back should make Arsenal uncomfortable, not because it is impossible, but because it shows exactly how quickly elite players can be dragged into tournament problem-solving.
England’s right side has become a World Cup headache. Sky Sports reported that Reece James could be unavailable until deep into the knockout stage because of a hamstring issue, while The Guardian has since detailed how Jarell Quansah’s ankle problem has pushed Djed Spence towards a likely start against DR Congo.
That is the context behind the noise around Rice. Tony Cascarino floated the idea of using the Arsenal midfielder at right-back, a suggestion later pushed back hard by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Sean Dyche on talkSPORT.
For Arsenal, the important point is not whether Thomas Tuchel actually does it. It is that Rice’s physical range, defensive intelligence and authority have made him the kind of player managers are tempted to use as an emergency fix.
Rice has already carried a demanding load for club and country. Read Arsenal recently looked at how his [World Cup workload could affect Mikel Arteta’s pre-season planning](https://readarsenal.com/2026/06/29/is-the-world-cup-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-arsenal/), and this debate only sharpens that concern.
The right-back argument sounds tactical on the surface. In reality, it is a minutes-management issue.
Moving Rice out of midfield would not reduce his burden; it would change the type of burden. Full-back defending in knockout football demands repeated recovery sprints, one-v-one duels in wider spaces and constant acceleration from deeper starting positions.
That is a very different physical profile from controlling central zones, screening transitions and dictating pressure in midfield.
Rice can do emergency jobs because he is an exceptional athlete. That does not mean Arsenal should want England testing that theory in late-June tournament heat.
There is also a role-protection issue. Arsenal have built much of their midfield security around Rice’s ability to cover ground without losing tactical discipline.
His value to Arteta is not only in tackles or ball carries. It is in the way he allows the rest of the structure to take controlled risks.
The temptation for England is obvious. Rice is trusted, robust and understands danger.
When injuries stack up, coaches tend to reach for the safest footballer rather than the cleanest positional solution.
But using him at right-back would risk weakening two areas at once. England would be removing their best midfield stabiliser to patch a defensive shortage that still has specialist answers available, most obviously Spence or a reshuffle involving Ezri Konsa.
That is why the criticism of the idea has been so sharp. Hasselbaink’s objection was blunt because the logic is blunt: Rice is too important centrally to be treated as spare tactical material.
From an Arsenal perspective, that should be reassuring. The wider game now understands Rice’s status.
The concern is that status can become a trap. The more reliable he becomes, the more managers may ask him to solve problems that are not his.
Arsenal’s summer already carries enough complexity. The club are preparing for a title defence, a heavy Champions League calendar and a squad return staggered by World Cup progress.
Rice sits at the centre of that equation.
If England advance, Arsenal’s priority should be straightforward: get Rice back healthy, rested and clear about his club role. Arteta can live with England leaning on him in midfield.
What Arsenal do not need is their most important engine being converted into a tournament emergency tool.
Read Arsenal has already assessed why the [Como friendly gives Arteta a useful final pre-season examination](https://readarsenal.com/2026/06/29/arsenal-como-friendly-cesc-fabregas-emirates-return/), and Rice’s return timeline will sit inside that planning.
The debate may fade if Spence starts and settles the position. But the warning will remain.
Arsenal have one of Europe’s most complete midfielders. This summer, protecting that completeness matters as much as celebrating it.