Graeme Souness rips into Declan Rice again - insisting he 'plays too deep' and 'might be a centre-half' - as legend claims Arsenal midfielder wouldn't get into any of Real Madrid, Barcelona or Man City's teams

In the latest of his ongoing critiques, football legend Graeme Souness has taken aim at Arsenal's midfield powerhouse Declan Rice, suggesting the England international is not being utilized to his full potential at the Emirates Stadium. Souness, a seasoned pundit known for his no-holds-barred commentary, argues that Rice operates too deep in the midfield and might actually be better suited to a role in central defense.

During a recent broadcast, Souness highlighted what he perceives as a misalignment in Rice's current positioning at Arsenal, stating, "Declan Rice has all the attributes of a modern center-half. His ability to read the game and physical presence could be better utilized further back. Right now, he plays too deep in the midfield for Arsenal."

Souness Questions Rice's Fit Among Europe's Elite

Taking his analysis a step further, Souness expressed doubts about Rice's ability to break into the starting lineups of Europe’s top clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Manchester City. "As talented as he is, I struggle to see Declan Rice fitting into the midfield of teams like Real Madrid or Manchester City," Souness claimed. "Those squads have a wealth of options that offer more creativity and dynamism going forward."

Rice, who joined Arsenal from West Ham United in the summer of 2023, has been a key figure in Mikel Arteta's plans as the Gunners aim to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title. Despite Souness’s criticism, Rice's performances have been widely praised by fans and analysts, contributing significantly to Arsenal’s solid start to the current season.

Arsenal's Tactical Setup

Under Arteta, Arsenal has adopted a fluid system that demands versatility from its midfielders. Rice often finds himself tasked with breaking up opposition play and initiating attacks from deeper positions. This dual responsibility may explain Souness’s perception of Rice’s deep-lying role.

As Arsenal prepares for their next big fixture against Chelsea, Rice will be keen to silence his critics with another commanding display. With Arsenal currently sitting near the top of the Premier League table, his contributions will be crucial as the season progresses.

While Souness's comments have sparked debate among fans and pundits alike, they underline the ongoing discussion about how best to utilize Rice's talents, both at the club and international levels.