Declan Rice has revealed that Mikel Arteta called him into his office at the start of the season after the Arsenal manager expressed dissatisfaction with the midfielder’s performance. Arteta took Rice off at the end of the Premier League opener against Manchester United (1-0 win) at Old Trafford. In the next game, he beat Leeds 5-0, setting the stage for Julian Timber’s opening goal.
Rice came on as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat against Liverpool, but was substituted in the next game against Nottingham Forest, before coming on as a substitute in the Gunners’ 3-0 home win. Arteta justified the call as being about “finding the right balance and making sure everyone is connected”.
This will be the only league game this season in which Rice has not been included in the starting lineup if available. The midfielder opened up about his lackluster start to the season and revealed details of a candid conversation Arteta started with him.
Rice told Sky Sports: “The manager pushed me a lot at the beginning of the season. I think after two games I was in his office and he brought me in. The manager wasn’t happy with some things.”
“There were some clips, just things I wasn’t doing right – basic things like running, tracking guys, having the ball, positioning – and he wasn’t very happy with it.
“At the beginning of the season I realized that I was probably not at my best level. The good thing about this manager is that he knows when to put a little knife in me, just nudge me and he knows that it brings out the best in me.”
“I love to listen, so I love to take everything in. I don’t think it’s a bad thing that he told me that. When he told me that, I said to myself, ‘I need to bring it up here!'”
Months have passed and Arteta is now praising Rice in public, with the midfielder emerging as the club’s most impressive player in what has been perhaps an unusual season so far.
Asked if Rice ranks among the world’s elite midfielders after his brace in the 3-2 win over Bournemouth, the Arsenal manager replied emphatically:
“Declan is always adding something to his game, always adding something to his role in the team. I don’t know where he will stop, because he can still improve in many areas and he wants to improve. He is a very important player for us.”
“Every minute was important for him to be available. We didn’t know how long (he) would be able to play. So for him to compete and play and then score two goals, I think that was outstanding and a really big message for the team.”
“He was very disappointed not to play against Villa, he really wanted it.
“He tried in the morning, but it was far from possible. He wanted to train the next day, but it wasn’t a possibility.
“Until the last moment I asked him[before the Bournemouth game]‘How are you doing?’” He said, “I’m in.” And he showed that he is in great hands. ”
