Arsenal are expecting another big season from Declan Rice as the club looks to end their trophy drought.
Rice got his pre-season campaign underway with 66 minutes of action during the Gunners 1-0 victory over AC Milan despite beginning the summer on an individual training plan.
The England international was struggling with a number of niggles towards the end of the last campaign but his performance in Singapore quashed any doubts over his condition leading into the new season.
Rice is excited by the signing of Noni Madueke for Arsenal, but it is the arrival of Martin Zubimendi that is set to have the biggest impact on the Gunners star.
READ MORE: Ethan Nwaneri reveals how the Arsenal squad really feel about new signings as Viktor Gyokeres awaits
Mikel Arteta wants Declan Rice to continue playing as a box-to-box midfielder
Speaking to the Athletic, Rice has revealed that Mikel Arteta sees his future as a box-to-box midfielder, carrying on from his excellent form last campaign.
Bukayo Saka was impressed with Zubimendi following his debut against Milan, and although Rice has the capacity to play in the number six role himself, the Spaniard’s arrival means that Rice can continue operating further forward.
Rice stated: “I have the capacity to play No 6 if needed, but we obviously have Zubimendi, who we’ve signed, and Norgaard, who have been incredible.
“The manager sees me as a box-to-box player. At the back-end of last season, off the back of Christmas, I showed fully what I can do in that position and kicked on. There’s so much room for growth in that area for me.”
The 26-year-old was named Arsenal’s player of the season for the 2024-25 campaign after securing his best ever season in front of goal.
His target will be to increase his number of goals and assists even further this season and take advantage of the extra creativity brought in around him this summer.
Declan Rice placing ‘big demands’ on himself at Arsenal next season
Rice is putting himself under pressure to drag the Gunners to glory next season and believes he has the capabilities to do so.
In the same interview with the Athletic, Rice explained: “I’m putting really big demands on myself this year, I’m trying to push myself because the back end of the season, I finished strong.
“At the start of last season I was nowhere near the level that I require of myself. I put it down to a few things. Coming off the back of the Euros final was mentally tough. Having 16 days off, going straight back into a Premier League season – it was really hard.
“It took me a few months to get going again. But now I’m getting a full pre-season, I feel really fit, strong and I’m going to try and kick off the season strong.”
The Gunners are in action against Newcastle United next up on their tour and it will be another chance for Rice and his teammates to fine tune patterns of play and maximise their fitness ahead of the season opener at Old Trafford.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
