3 best Arsenal players from Euro 2024 group stage

2. Declan Rice

Gareth Southgate and his cohort have suffered great scrutiny for their opening performances at Euro 2024, but Declan Rice has been consistent for the Three Lions.

Arsenal's club record signing has been deployed as a defensive midfielder for his national side, restricting his attacking freedom. However, despite providing glimpses and opportunities when progressing up the park, his best quality comes when sweeping in front of the back four.

Rice is in an exclusive list with three other players who are yet to miss a minute of Euro 2024 action in white and blue. Even with this, you could count the amount of individual errors he has made on one hand.

The midfielder has gone under heavy criticism, especially after the frustrating 1-1 draw against Denmark, as claims emerged that he struggles to make forward passes, as well as an array of other faults the media could find in him. However, the truth is that the midfielder is forced to defend solitarily, as Jude Bellingham presses high and Trent Alexander-Arnold is often out of position. On top of this, with an incohesive attack ahead of him, there are rarely any available options for the midfielder to release the ball up the pitch and is forced to, frustratingly for viewers, recycle possession.

While surrounding midfielders have adapted and even been replaced as England look to resolve their early competition issues, the 25-year-old has been a reassuring mainstay. Rice has arguably been a victim of Southgate's inability to name a coherent and consistent starting lineup, but the Arsenal star will hope that changes.

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