Souness On Rice: Arsenal Midfielder Needs To Sharpen Final Third Play

Viktoria Ivanova

4 min read

Post on May 02, 2025

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Souness's Specific Concerns: A Deep Dive

Souness's criticism of Declan Rice hasn't been subtle. He's voiced concerns about Rice's lack of consistent impact in the attacking phases of the game, particularly his final third contributions. The pundit suggests that for a player of his caliber and transfer fee, more is expected in terms of creating chances and scoring goals. While acknowledging Rice's defensive capabilities, Souness points to a perceived deficiency in his attacking decision-making and creative passing.

Specific examples, while not explicitly detailed by Souness in every instance, can be extrapolated from recent Arsenal matches. Games where Arsenal struggled to break down deep-lying defenses might highlight instances where Rice's passing choices or positioning could have been more impactful.

• Lack of incisive passing in the final third: Souness likely points to situations where Rice opts for safer, sideways passes instead of attempting riskier, more creative passes that could unlock defensive lines.
• Limited goal contributions (goals and assists): A low number of goals and assists directly reflects the criticism; the expectation for a midfielder of Rice's stature is significantly higher than his current output.
• Missed opportunities to create chances: There are likely instances where Rice was in a position to create a scoring chance but failed to execute the pass, shot, or movement effectively.
• Decision-making in the attacking zone: Souness likely highlights poor choices in the final third, either in passing or shooting situations, hindering Arsenal's attacking flow.
• Comparison with other top midfielders in the Premier League: Souness's criticism may be contextualized by comparing Rice's offensive statistics and overall impact to other top midfielders in the league. This comparison reinforces the notion that Rice needs to improve his final third play to reach the elite level.

Analyzing Rice's Strengths and Weaknesses in the Final Third

It's crucial to acknowledge Declan Rice's undeniable strengths before focusing solely on the criticism. His defensive contributions are invaluable to Arsenal. He excels in:

• Defensive solidity: Rice's tackling, interceptions, and overall defensive awareness are top-tier.
• Ball retention: He's adept at shielding the ball and maintaining possession, crucial in midfield.
• Physicality: Rice's strength and physical presence provide a significant advantage in midfield battles.

However, his weaknesses in the final third are more pronounced:

• Creative passing: His pass completion percentage, specifically in the final third, might reveal a tendency towards safer, less impactful passes.
• Shot accuracy: Improving his shot accuracy is key to increasing his goal-scoring contribution.
• Decision-making in advanced positions: This is possibly the area needing most urgent improvement; quicker, more decisive actions in the final third will translate to better chances.

Potential for Improvement and Future Outlook for Declan Rice's Final Third Play

While Souness's criticism is valid, it's important to remember that Declan Rice is still relatively new to Arsenal and the Premier League's high-intensity style of play. There's significant potential for improvement:

• Increased training focus on attacking play: Dedicated practice on creative passing, shooting accuracy, and decision-making in the final third could significantly enhance his skills.
• Working on creative passing drills: Targeted training sessions focused on improving the vision and execution of key passes will be beneficial.
• Improving shot accuracy and power: Practice shooting from various angles and distances will directly increase goal-scoring opportunities.
• Enhanced decision-making under pressure: Pressure situations need to be simulated in training to build confidence in making the right choices.
• Adapting to Arsenal's system: Time and familiarity with Arsenal's style of play will contribute to better integration and a more fluid role within the team.

Conclusion: The Verdict on Declan Rice's Final Third Play and a Call to Action

Graeme Souness's concerns regarding Declan Rice's final third play are understandable, given the player's price tag and expectations surrounding his role in the Arsenal midfield. While Rice's defensive contributions are unquestionable, improvement in his creative passing, shooting, and overall decision-making in advanced positions is crucial to maximizing his potential. His strengths are clear, and with dedicated work and tactical adjustments, there’s every reason to believe Rice can become a more potent attacking force. The potential is there; it's a matter of refining existing skills and integrating them more effectively within Arsenal's system.

What are your thoughts on Declan Rice's final third play? Do you agree with Souness's assessment? Share your opinions on Declan Rice's attacking contributions and how he might improve his final third play in the comments below!