3 reasons why Mikel Arteta was desperate for Declan Rice

2. An #8 or a #6? Does it matter?

The West Ham captain has mainly started in a defensive midfield position as part of a double pivot at the London Stadium. His heat map would also suggest that even though he predominantly roams on the left, it’s in a more defensive position.

As mentioned earlier, he’s a potential #8 in the making. His passing stats would simply suit the Arteta style of football, with 6.4 passes into the final third, and 6.6 progressive passes last season. If you compare that to Xhaka, he has 4.4 and 5.8 respectively per 90. You have to also remember that West Ham aren’t a side that has control of possession often either, so those stats could significantly rise if he makes the summer move.

As shown below, his brilliant cross-field pass on his weaker foot found his team-mate who slot the ball in. A testament to his all-round abilities.

Defensively, he’s a rock in the middle of the park. His seamless transition from being a centre-back to one of the best defensive midfielders illustrates his quality. His capability of winning tackles, slowing attacks down and capacity to counter-press are all traits reminiscent of the best #6’s that have played the game.

There have been certain transfers that Arsenal missed out on over the years that left the club with a paging sense of regret. There is real hope with Rice that he could evolve into something special, and that’s worth holding onto.

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