Arsenal have put in a few blunt performances of late, but Declan Rice is helping out by getting into more advanced positions. How much difference can he make?
With two goals in two games, Declan Rice has scored as many times in Arsenal’s last two matches as any other teammate has in their last five.
Although his attacking output has shot up since he joined Arsenal in 2023, that wasn’t what was signed for. It has until recently been a welcome boost that he has produced so much in the final third, but in the context of his team’s injuries in attack and a string of goal-shy performances, his goals might become a little more integral.
The 7-1 win at PSV Eindhoven last week was the exception in Arsenal’s recent attacking displays, and even then they scored seven goals from just 1.91 expected goals. They scored so many because of exceptional finishing, not because they created enough chances to score seven times.
Otherwise, there have been three blanks in their last seven matches, plus one goal in last weekend’s draw at Manchester United, a late Mikel Merino double against soon-to-be relegated Leicester City and two goals in this week’s Champions League draw with PSV.
Without Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and, until Sunday, Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal have understandably been less productive at the sharp end of the pitch. “We had some beautiful bits of play but didn’t have that cutting edge,” Rice reflected after Sunday’s game at Old Trafford.
Man Utd vs Arsenal stats
The England midfielder had just produced a one-man-team of a display, scoring Arsenal’s equaliser, winning possession more times overall than anyone else on the pitch (seven) and also more times in the final third (two) than anyone else. Only Martin Ødegaard (38) completed more passes in the final third than him (36), while Rice also led the way for touches in the opposition box (six). His total of 16 progressive carries – moving with the ball at least five metres towards the opposition’s goal – was also the highest of every player on the pitch. He dragged Arsenal back into the game from a goal down and essentially earned his team a point.
It wasn’t a performance that anyone should find all that surprising. Rice is an incredible midfield all-rounder, almost certainly the best in the Premier League. There isn’t really anything he can’t do, and he just seems to never stop running. Five teammates have played more minutes than him in the Premier League this season, but he has covered more ground than any other Arsenal player.
His relentless running was particularly useful against United, as time and again he was seen powering forward, seemingly tasked with doing the job of two players. His 27 off-the-ball runs was more than any other player on the pitch.
While doing his usual job of breaking up play – including a genuinely amazing goal-saving challenge on Rasmus Højlund in his own box which he celebrated more vociferously than his goal – Rice was also regularly Arsenal’s furthest player forward. He made more off-the-ball runs into the opposition’s box (nine) than any other player.
It has been noticeable recently how often he has been getting forward. Since Havertz was ruled out of the rest of the season on 14 February, Rice has got on the ball higher up the pitch far more often. His open-play touch map shows an increase across the attacking half of the pitch in Havertz’s absence.
Man Utd vs Arsenal stats
While Arsenal have willing deputies for Havertz and Jesus, they currently have no fit direct replacement, and whether it is Leandro Trossard or Merino playing through the middle up front, they both prefer to drop deep looking for the ball to feet than staying high up the pitch. With Martinelli and Saka also absent, there has been even more need for someone else to run beyond the opposition’s last line. Rice appears to have been tasked with doing that even more.
Against United, he made 20 off-the-ball runs into the opposition box or into the final third – his highest total in any Premier League game since he moved to Arsenal. His nine runs into the opposition box was his second highest total in an Arsenal shirt, after the 4-2 win over Leicester back in September, when the game was locked at 2-2 for more than 30 minutes and Arsenal piled forwards looking for a winner. Leicester were camped in front of their goal, and there were a lot of opportunities for every Arsenal player to get into the box.
Incredibly, Rice barely sacrifices any of his defensive game despite getting into advanced positions as often as he does just because he runs so much. His endurance was further highlighted by Arteta’s decision to start his midfielder in what was essentially a dead rubber in the second leg against PSV just a few days after covering every blade of grass at Old Trafford.
Declan Rice heat map vs Man Utd
Declan Rice heat map vs Man Utd
With Martinelli back in action and Arteta hopeful that Saka will return “in a few weeks”, Arsenal could be coming out of the other side of their crisis, but neither Havertz nor Jesus will play again this season, and Rice’s runs through the middle of the pitch will remain useful.
Midfield runs from deep are notoriously difficult to pick up, but they are also hard to get right. It’s not a side of the game that he is particularly known for, and he provides far more defensive work than box-crashing number 10s usually do, so it’s unlikely he’ll add too many goals. But if there’s any midfielder in the Premier League who can combine both roles in one, it’s Rice.
Following their progress to the Champions League quarter-final, Arsenal have plenty left to play for this season, and they won’t be giving up on the title race even if everyone else has decided it’s over. And anyway, even if they don’t think they can catch Liverpool, positive performances between now and the Real Madrid tie could only help.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid:
On Sunday, Rice will be out to show former club Chelsea once again what they are missing out on, so he might have even more motivation than usual to run himself into the ground. He scored against them last season and he also has the chance to score in three consecutive games for the first time in his senior career.
Heading into a tricky Premier League run that also includes games against Fulham and Everton before that Madrid tie, Rice’s contributions will be as crucial as ever. Don’t be surprised if he adds any more telling contributions in the final third.
Opta Stats Hub Premier League
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