From Sky Sports · Sam Blitz · · 1m 30s
Declan Rice's New Role at Arsenal
Arsenal's Declan Rice no longer the 'lighthouse' player, now more active in attack.
In brief
Arsenal's Declan Rice no longer the 'lighthouse' player, now more active in attack. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has transitioned from a defensive role to a more attacking position after Mikel Arteta's comments. Originally reported by Sky Sports.
Arteta's statement on Rice's role
Mikel Arteta says Declan Rice is no longer the 'lighthouse' player but has transitioned to a new role.
“I went to him and I said: 'you are not the lighthouse anymore. You are something else'”
Rice's improved attacking role
Rice has increased his final-third entries by 25 percent this season compared to last year.
“The number of final-third entries he has averaged this season has gone up by 25 per cent compared to last season”
Rice's assist numbers
Rice has three assists from open play in six league games this season, more than the entire 2025/26 campaign.
“In six league games this season, Rice has three assists from open play, more than he managed in the entire of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign”
Rice's positional shift
Rice now plays deeper on the right side of a midfield pivot after previously being a left-sided No 8.
“Declan Rice is playing deeper and on the right side of a midfield pivot this season having played as a left-sided No 8 two seasons ago”
Rice's passing improvements
Rice has reduced his backwards passes by 50 percent while increasing line-breaking passes to a Premier League record.
“He is finding gaps between the opposition players more often - so much so that he has made more line-breaking passes than any other Premier League player”
Rice's impact on Arsenal's goals
All of Arsenal's goals this season come from open play, with no set-piece goals since March.
“All of Arsenal's goals are from open play. They haven't scored from a set piece since March”
Rice's role in the team
Rice combines set-piece threats with open play passing, creating a more dynamic midfield role.
“He is effective in the dead ball and open play scenarios”
Rice's assist patterns
Rice's assists include two long-range goals for Bruno Guimaraes against Sunderland and Leeds.
“Two of them were for Guimaraes goals against Sunderland and Leeds - both set up the Brazilian from outside the box, both set up long-range goals”
Rice's evolution
Rice has evolved from a defensive midfielder to a more attacking role, improving his overall impact on the pitch.
“Rice is summing up this slightly different Arsenal. Like Rice's assist numbers, all of Arsenal's goals are from open play”
Arsenal's new approach
Arsenal is evolving with Rice at the heart of the team, focusing on open play rather than set pieces.
“Arsenal are evolving. Rice, at the heart of the team, is evolving with them”
What it means
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has transitioned from a defensive role to a more attacking position after Mikel Arteta's comments.
