Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard jr, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Jermaine Defoe, Glenn Johnson.
Nobody would have thought West Ham United would ever be able to produce a large crop of English home grown quality in such quick succession. The late 90’s – early 00’s was a conveyor belt of talented youth; one after the other making it to the first team & setting English football alight, becoming the next generation of England internationals.
It was only a matter of time before the premier league bully boys came knocking and it was inevitable we were going to lose most of, if not all of our young poster boys. Which now brings me to the very best of them all…
21 May 2017 saw yet another academy player with a big reputation make his first team debut for the club, coming on as a substitute away to Burnley.
Whilst the limelight was focused on Reece Oxford, U18’s coach Mark Phillips was adamant that a young centre back named Declan Rice (who later switched to a defensive midfielder) will go on to be the next West Ham player from the academy set up that would go to the top.
Very early on in Dec’s West Ham career you could see his leadership qualities, & in no time at all he would go on to be Mark Noble’s lieutenant before taking the armband full time 12 months ago.
So what can Arsenal fans expect from Declan Rice?
Rice has everything in his locker. Everything.
His injury record is non-existent for the modern day footballer, and is consistently available for selection. He can play anywhere in midfield, as well as his original position at centre back. His ability to win the ball & keep possession can only be likened to Claude Makelele; who would win the ball & play the short pass. His timing for a tackle is perfected down to the millisecond when the opposition are attacking, which are executed with pure accuracy and precision.
Dec can distribute the ball short and long range, as well as carrying it deep into the oppositions half as a box-to-box from a deep lying playmaker. One of Dec’s best attributes is his ability at keeping the ball – his composure to keep possession and bring his team mates into play is second to none.
His reaction and vision to pick out a team mate after winning the ball when the game is at a lightening pace is frightening, as Moyes likes to hit teams on the counter attack. His feet are very quick & clever and you just know when he’s on the ball he’s never going to lose it – he’s always going to make something happen.
His awareness of opposition players around him when receiving a pass is as sharp as a blade, and he very rarely gets caught out; If he does, he will chase his player until he wins it back.
Arsenal’s style of play will hugely benefit from Dec’s distribution of the ball. I am sure Arteta will want everything to go through him, from Ramsdale – his long range diagonal balls to wingers will have Saka’s & Martinelli’s mouth’s watering as it will land straight at their feet. It’s like water off a ducks back for him.
Rice has the confidence of a raging bull to drive at opposition with no fear what so ever. His drive with the ball can be very scary defenders, as we’ve seen it in virtually every game, and during our European campaigns, which ended in him being on the scoresheet and respectively winning the West Ham goal of the month every time.
For a player with a tall, lean, structure, his strength to shield off and block attackers is very impressive, yet his ariel ability is just above average.
Tomas Soucek’s game was sacrificed for Dec in the 2021/22 season so he could improve on his own game getting forward, and his desire to develop into the complete midfielder.
Mark Noble once said Dec was the best striker of the ball in training, and needs to test goalkeepers a lot more from range. If there’s anything that he lacks, it’s goals.
Unfortunately for Dec, Moyes’ style of play wasn’t able to help develop that side of his game, but he is a fantastic striker of the ball nonetheless. If Arteta plays Rice as a left sided number 8 (which is what I’ve heard), I wouldn’t be surprised if he bagged 10 goals & assists a season.
His hunger to add goals to his artillery is there, and he will frequently get into positions where he can have a clean strike at goal.
Rice’s leadership qualities is what Arsenal desperately lack, and I’m calling it now – he will probably be named captain in the next couple of years, as well as captain of England.
His popularity with the other players around England camps tells you everything you need to know about him, and he already has a strong relationship with Sake.
The way Rice carries himself on and off the pitch radiates through the players and the fan base. He is a model professional who will always give, and demand, 100% – nobody has a bad word to say about him.
The man oozes class. His desire to win, his honesty, and his dream to go to the top is what makes him the man, and player he has become.
An Arsenal fan who I know very well asked me who I’d compare Rice to…my answer was Ruud Gullit.
He has a long way to go for a full comparison to be made, but Dec has everything in his locker to become the complete midfielder playing total football, and be the best in world in his position.
He already has the mentality of a world class footballer, as all he wants to do is win, improve, train hard, and work tirelessly for his team.
Kevin Slade (SD&CC)
Follow @KevinSladeSDCC
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 