Emmanuel Petit has questioned Mikel Arteta’s plan to hand a more attacking role in his new-look Arsenal midfield.
The skipper is primed to become the Gunners’ record signing after a deal worth £105million was struck earlier this week.
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The 24-year-old’s arrival represents a landmark moment for Mikel Arteta who fought off competition from to sign his No.1 target.
Primarily a defensive midfielder, Arteta is understood to have designs on playing Rice in a more advanced role or at least attempt to unlock his full attacking potential under the belief he was held back at West Ham.
Petit, however, who was converted from a left-back to all-action midfielder by Arsene Wenger during his time at Arsenal, fears Rice lacks the technical quality to play as a No.8 and that was the reason behind his decision to snub City’s interest.
‘He would have been great at Manchester City, but he would have struggled to get into the starting XI because Rodri has been so good for so many years,’ Petit told DAZN Bet.
‘Pep only likes to play with one holding midfielder, and Stones has shown he is more than capable of stepping in there when necessary from defence as well.
‘Declan Rice is not a No.8 so he would not have been able to fit in as another holding midfielder, he is just a No.6. Rodri is certainly not injury-prone and, if I was Rice, I would ask myself if I was going to play regularly every weekend? I don’t think he would have; just look at Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez.
‘They were two of City’s best players in 2022 and last season they spent much of the season on the bench. Guardiola doesn’t get emotional when it comes to picking a starting XI either.
‘Arsenal was the best option for him because he will definitely play every single game, he fits perfectly into the team and it is a young squad that he knows very well already from playing against them and with some of them for England as well.’
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