Arsenal faced Brighton on Saturday afternoon as they returned to Premier League action after Christmas.
Eyebrows were raised at 1:45PM when Arsenal released a rather strange starting XI.
The Gunners put out a rather bizarre starting XI against Brighton due to their defensive injury crisis, and ahead of the game, it was hard to figure out what the team would look like.
How do you feel about Arsenal’s adjustment to Jurrien Timber’s injury?
Some believed it could be a 3-4-3 diamond formation, while others suggested Martin Zubimendi could be moving into an inverted role at right-back in the absence of Jurrien Timber.
However, as it turned out, Declan Rice was selected to play at right-back, a position that is largely alien to the England international.
Arsenal may have won against Brighton, but fans weren’t all that impressed by what they saw from Rice on the day.
Arsenal fans react to Declan Rice performance at right-back
Arsenal fans weren’t too keen on Rice’s performance as a right-back.
Rice has been hailed as world-class in recent times, but this wasn’t his best performance of all-time.
One fan wrote: “Rice looks lost as a RB. He doesn’t even know where to stand or run. Saliba is playing as a CB and RB”
Meanwhile, another supporter posted on X, saying: “Rice looks lost at RB. This needs to change.”
The main issue was seemingly Rice’s positioning, as another fan posted: “Where is Declan Rice playing please. He is everywhere but RB.”
Another fan shared an alternative option to Rice, claiming “Martinelli should have played RB instead of Rice.”
“We’ve been good but Rice RB has changed our dynamics in a really strange way. odd watch,” One fan also wrote.
All in all, Rice wasn’t terrible at right-back on the day, but he certainly didn’t look the most comfortable in that role.
Of course, a player of his ability is never going to look too uncomfortable in any role, and he still managed to get an assist from a corner, but he’s clearly better in the midfield.
Paul Merson’s Declan Rice verdict
Mikel Arteta picked Rice to play at right-back in this game, and Paul Merson was baffled by this decision before this match even kicked off.
Merson said from the off that he thinks using Rice at right-back was a mistake, speaking on Soccer Saturday:
Sum up Declan Rice’s performance at right-back in one sentence
“I think he’s a top player, top players can play in different positions, but he’s the one who pushes Arsenal forwards, he pushes them on, his energy in midfield, to take him out of there today against Brighton who will sit in and look for a counter-attack, he’ll be wasted there for me, I’d have played Merino there and played Rice in midfield, I think this is not a good move in my opinion,” Merson said.
Of course, this was an emergency measure, so it was bound to look unnatural, and, as good as Rice is, it’s clear that he isn’t at his best when he’s playing at right-back.
Hopefully, Jurrien Timber will return before too long.
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