Declan Rice has admitted that he has enjoyed playing in the number eight role at Arsenal and it is making him hungry to score more goals. The midfielder revealed that his most natural position is the number six, although he is happy to play wherever Mikel Arteta wants him.
For the majority of this season, that has been in a more advanced midfield role with Rice being handed more freedom to get forward and play in a box-to-box type role. The 25-year-old claims that the manager has been alternating his role depending on the opposition. Rice recently impressed in the number eight role against Crystal Palace as he bagged a goal and assist at Selhurst Park.
Rice told Prime Sport: “I feel like I can do whatever the manager wants me to do. I think I’ve always been best growing up as a six, but since I’ve come here I’ve started to learn that eight role and I feel really free in that role. Moving up and down the pitch, being a bit more box-to-box. Sometimes when the manager asks me to arrive in the box, it’s a bit more unnatural for me, because that’s not my natural game, but it does make me more hungry for goals.
“Depending on the opposition, I’ll play wherever the manager needs me to play. I had a slow start to the season off the back of the Euros but off the back of the last couple of weeks I’ve been finding my feet again and feeling much more back to myself and I’m really pleased.”
