Gary Neville has delivered his verdict on Mikel Arteta's decision to move Declan Rice out of midfield during Arsenal's trip to West Ham on Sunday afternoon
17:09, 10 May 2026Updated 17:22, 10 May 2026
Declan Rice during an Arsenal game
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Declan Rice during Arsenal's game against West Ham(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Gary Neville was left "stunned" by Mikel Arteta's decision to move Declan Rice to right-back during Arsenal's Premier League game against West Ham.
Rice, 27, started the match in midfield alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly, but Arteta was forced to shuffle his pack midway through the first half.
Ben White limped off after picking up an injury, and Arteta chose to bring on Zubimendi in midfield and move Rice to the right side of the back four.
It meant that Zubimendi and Lewis-Skelly formed a midfield-two with Rice alongside William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori in defence.
Arteta's decision to switch Rice to right-back left Neville, on co-commentary for Sky Sports, shocked.
"I'm stunned, actually," Neville said on the decision to put Rice at right-back.
"To take Declan Rice out of the middle of the pitch is a big call. One of guests in the studio thinks anyone can play at right back so now we'll find out. If I was Nuno and West Ham I'd be lifted right now, I would be just naturally."
Neville added: "I have just been told there is no evidence Miles Lewis-Skelly has ever played right-back. But to take Declan Rice out of the middle of the pitch is a big call."
Arsenal controlled the opening half an hour at the London Stadium, creating a number of chances with Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori going close to giving the Gunners the lead.
But it felt as though West Ham gained some confidence from Rice moving to right-back and the momentum appeared to switch in the other direction. Indeed, from the moment Arteta brought Zubimendi on in the 22nd minute and made the substitution, the Gunners had just ONE shot up until half-time.
As the first half wore on, Neville made a plea for Arteta to move Rice back into midfield. "I'm stopping myself saying it's because it's too obvious but I would be thinking about getting Declan Rice back into midfield," Neville added.
Rice has impressed for Arsenal in recent matches and ex-Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane lavished praise on him pre-match, saying he has "stepped up to the plate" in the Premier League title run-in.
Before the Gunners went up against Manchester City last month, ex-Manchester United midfielder Keane said that Rice is not showing enough leadership. He added that Rice has got to "get a grip of people" as Mikel Arteta's side wobbled in the title race.
But since the Gunners suffered a 2-1 defeat at City, Rice has been a standout performer. He impressed in Premier League matches against Newcastle United and Fulham, as well as both semi-final fixtures against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, winning the Player of the Match in the second leg on Tuesday.
"Without a doubt, he has stepped up to the plate," Keane, speaking to Sky Sports, said on Rice. "Obviously I have had question marks over Declan - there is no doubting his quality but in terms of his leadership skills...
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"But certainly over the last few weeks, even the reaction after the setback with the Man City game, he has stepped up to another level and that is what you want from your big players. He has certainly done that."