Alan Pardew says Declan Rice now has a problem that’s very ‘unfortunate’

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Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew has claimed that Declan Rice faces a challenge when it comes to his position in the England national team.

It comes as the Arsenal star continues to impress for both club and country, becoming a key figure for the sides.

Declan Rice’s style of play has evolved, particularly for the Gunners, transitioning from a deep-lying midfielder to a more versatile option.

Whether it’s his set-piece record for Arsenal or the goals and assists he is chipping in with, the role that Mikel Arteta has carved out for him is getting the most out of the skillset he has.

However, there is a slightly different dynamic when it comes to the England national team.

Alan Pardew says Declan Rice has a problem with England position

With Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi this summer, there has been more freedom for Declan Rice to roam and contribute in an attacking sense.

That same freedom may not be afforded to him in the England setup, however, with Thomas Tuchel’s options looking slightly different.

Elliot Anderson appears to be the first choice to sit alongside Rice for England, heading into the 2026 World Cup, which may create other issues.

That was explained by Alan Pardew, who spoke on TalkSPORT about the current positions for the Three Lions.

He said: “It’s a little bit unfortunate for him [Rice], not because of his leadership skills but because he’s restricted a little bit in terms of we need him to be the anchor of the team.

“Sometimes at Arsenal, they release him a little bit to some great effect.”

While that may limit him slightly more for the national team, the style of play and opposition that he will face with England will be different to that of Arsenal.

Given how versatile Rice is, that could be used to great effect.

Bukayo Saka’s praise for Declan Rice’s leadership for Arsenal and England

While his positioning for England could be a problem, it’s nothing that Rice hasn’t dealt with before in his career.

Having battled his way to the very top, the highlights for the midfielder continue to pour in with every fresh performance.

Rice’s display against Real Madrid remains one of the best, showcasing his leadership in setting the standards for others.

Bukayo Saka recently praised his teammate when speaking to TalkSPORT, as he said: “He’s not just a great player, he’s a great leader.

“Obviously, he was captain at West Ham, and even around Arsenal, he’s a big leader. He’s a guy that takes a lot of responsibility in the changing room and gets the boys going, so credit to him for that, and he’s doing that here [England] now.

“He’s in really good form, in a really good moment, and I’m happy to be his teammate.”

It’s clear that Rice is someone who is willing to do whatever is needed for the team, a quality that could help drag both his club and country to glory in the coming months.