Title-winner or not, Rice was right to pick Arsenal over City

Choosing Arsenal over Manchester City was the correct decision for Declan Rice, irrespective of the outcome of the Premier League title race.

The England international could have opted for a move to Manchester City last summer, but his choice to join Arsenal has already proven to be the right one. During England's camp for March's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, Declan Rice engaged in conversation with John Stones, acknowledging their upcoming clash at the Etihad Stadium after the international break.

Stones, unaware of the reference, inquired about their opponent, prompting Rice to express his disbelief at facing Manchester City. While Stones embodies a focused, one-game-at-a-time mentality, Rice's forward-thinking and fixation on the broader perspective distinguish him as a different character.

Although the midfielder was undoubtedly thrilled at the opportunity to earn his 50th cap for England, which he achieved as captain against Belgium on Tuesday, he remained fully focused on the future without ever losing sight of what lay ahead.

Potential title-decider

In Rice's perspective, Sunday's highly anticipated clash between Arsenal and City holds the potential to determine the title race. Recognizing the significance of the match, he admitted to expecting a closely contested encounter as the league leaders visit the third-placed champions. Emphasizing the need for Arsenal to overcome any preconceived notions, Rice stressed the importance of securing a victory to dispel any doubts about their capabilities as a top team.

Furthermore, Rice himself has a point to prove. Both he and Arsenal have previously triumphed over City in the Premier League this season, notably through Gabriel Martinelli's late winner at the Emirates in October. However, facing City at the Etihad presents the ultimate challenge for both sides. Not only are City considered the best team globally, but they also boast the world's top player in Rice's preferred position.

Best of the best

During his recent international duty, Rice commented on his versatile roles under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, alternating between the No.6 and No.8 positions. He expressed a preference for the more offensive role, relishing the opportunity to contribute goals, which has made this season his most prolific yet. However, he humorously acknowledged occasional discomfort at finding himself as Arsenal's furthest player forward, considering his background as a center-back before transitioning to defensive midfield.

Despite enjoying his offensive duties, Rice still considers his "strongest position" to be the No.6 role, where he feels most confident due to his career trajectory. Nonetheless, he remains focused on improvement, citing players like Rodri from Manchester City as benchmarks for excellence in the position. Rice aims to emulate Rodri's ability to control the game from a central position, constantly seeking to learn and evolve his game.

Only want to play for Arsenal

Despite Manchester City's substantial offer of up to £90 million ($114m) for his services last summer, Rice ultimately chose to stay true to his desire to play for Arsenal, even amidst their determined pursuit. While he could have pursued guaranteed trophies at the Etihad, Rice made it clear to Arteta from the outset that he only had eyes for Arsenal.

This decision was consistent with Rice's past actions, such as his choice to switch allegiances from Ireland to England, which he defended as being in the best interest of his future. Similarly, in opting for Arsenal over Manchester City, Rice applied a similar thought process, demonstrating loyalty to his chosen path.

Could play Rice when Rodri could not

While a move to Manchester City would have almost certainly guaranteed Declan Rice trophies, he would have faced significant challenges in terms of game time, a factor that would not have escaped his notice. Rice's England midfield partner during Euro 2020, Kalvin Phillips, struggled for minutes during his time at City before being loaned to West Ham in January. Similarly, Jack Grealish, another international teammate, has spent much of his tenure at City on the bench.

Rice may have been better suited than Phillips to compete for a starting position, but Pep Guardiola's remarks in October suggested that he viewed Rice more as an understudy to Rodri rather than a direct replacement. Guardiola implied that Rice would have only featured when Rodri was unavailable, indicating that Stones would have been Guardiola's preferred choice in the hybrid defender/midfield role.

Even adapting to the No.8 role at City would likely have been more challenging for Rice compared to Arsenal, as it carries additional creative responsibilities.

Value of control

At Arsenal, Declan Rice was always going to enjoy regular playing time, whether deployed as a No.6 or a No.8, and this has indeed been the case. With 39 appearances this season, he stands out as one of the most utilized players in Arteta's squad, alongside William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka.

In his role with more attacking freedom, Rice has made significant contributions, notably securing four additional points for Arsenal with injury-time goals against Manchester United and Luton. However, his greatest asset lies in his ability to control the game, a trait highly valued by Arteta, reminiscent of Guardiola's preferences.

While Rice may not excel in terms of winning possession and tackles compared to the top ball-winners in the Premier League like Christian Norgaard, Rodri, and Bruno Guimaraes, he compensates with his exceptional reading of the game and his influence on it. His proficiency in interceptions, for instance, surpasses that of Rodri, with 35 interceptions compared to the latter's 20. Additionally, as highlighted by Arteta, Rice excels in winning crucial duels in dangerous areas, enabling Arsenal to initiate counterattacks effectively.

What truly distinguishes Rice is his ability to execute defensive tasks cleanly and efficiently. He commits very few fouls and has only received three bookings in the league this season. Moreover, his ball distribution is exceptionally smooth, boasting a pass completion rate of over 90 percent.

It is in this aspect of the game, particularly in swiftly recycling possession, that Rice draws comparisons to Rodri. Remarkably, Rice has matched Rodri's tally of six goals and five assists this season. Essentially, he dictates and influences matches in a manner akin to the midfield maestro he openly admires and studies.

Rapidly evolving

Rice acknowledges that he still has significant room for improvement, noting that his position and responsibilities have undergone considerable changes since his move from West Ham. Despite feeling that he has performed consistently well this season, he believes there are areas where he can enhance his game.

Arteta, however, has expressed surprise at how quickly Rice adapted to his new dual role, with the benefits now evident to all. Rice's evolution has been rapid, as noted by Gareth Southgate, who initially saw him as a "converted centre-back" but now recognizes him as a player with a complete skill set.

As for his role in the upcoming match against City, it remains uncertain whether Rice will be deployed as a No.6 or a No.8. Regardless, he will have the opportunity to face Rodri, who was absent during City's previous encounter with Arsenal, a game they ultimately lost.
While the outcome of Sunday's match is uncertain, what is clear is that Rice's decision to join Arsenal last summer was the correct one. Serving as Rodri's understudy at City would have been a waste of his talents, as he has already proven himself capable of becoming a key figure for Arsenal this season.