“Ask Mikel Arteta” – Ex-Premier League Boss Comes To Declan Rice’s Defence Amid Criticism

By The Editor
on 22nd June 2024

Sam Allardyce backs Declan Rice…

Former Premier League boss Sam Allardyce has come to the defence of Declan Rice after former Sunderland winger James McClean labelled him overrated.

Rice has come under universal criticism following a rare poor showing in England’s 1-1 draw against Denmark, and those critics were led by McClean on Irish television.

The former Republic of Ireland winger – whose motivation behind lasering in on Rice is undoubtedly fuelled by the Arsenal man’s allegiance switch in 2019 – claimed that the 25-year-old couldn’t be deemed a world-class player given that he doesn’t dictate a game.

“For me, he’s not world-class. To me world-class is someone who gets in every side in the world. I don’t think he does that,” McClean said on RTE.

“I don’t think he gets in the Man City side ahead of Rodri. I know Toni Kross is now retiring, but to me Toni Kroos is world-class. He dictates the game, Rodri dictates the game, I don’t think Declan Rice does that.”

I’m not sure where McClean has been hiding, but Rodri’s manager – some guy by the name of Pep Guardiola – put in a bid north of £90 million last summer in an attempt to sign Rice.

Allardyce laughed off the former West Brom player’s comments, urging him to “ask Mikel Arteta” if he thinks Rice is world-class.

“Who is he?” The former England boss said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.

“Who is he, James Mclean, who is he? Aks Mikel Arteta what he’s done for Arsenal last year.

“He might be saying that to keep himself popular on the television. You want to be a pundit, be controversial and they’ll keep you on.”

The idea that Rice cannot be considered a world-class holding midfielder because he doesn’t make over 100 passes per game seems to be a new narrative.

One of the best defensive midfielders over the past decade has been N’Golo Kante – nobody has questioned his credentials despite being a destructive player.

Rice – if he wasn’t already – will now be aware that being an Arsenal player comes with a unique level of scrutiny.