Roy Keane is widely regarded as one of the greatest captains in Premier League history.
The former Manchester United midfielder was the driving force behind Sir Alex Ferguson’s dominant side, and his influence went far beyond his ability on the ball.
Arsenal have also had some iconic leaders over the years. Tony Adams is arguably the greatest captain in the club’s history, while Patrick Vieira is not far behind in terms of impact and leadership.
Since then, however, there have been question marks over who truly fits that role at the Emirates. Henri Lansbury now believes Arsenal may already have that player in Declan Rice.
Is Declan Rice right or is the Premier League title race DONE?
Henri Lansbury says Arsenal star Declan Rice is a bit like Roy Keane
Rice has grown into one of the most important players at Arsenal since joining the club in a record-breaking deal in 2023.
The England international’s performances in midfield have been consistently strong, and his presence has made everyone around him better.
Beyond his ability, it is his leadership that has really stood out. Even without wearing the armband regularly, Rice has taken responsibility on the pitch and set standards for his teammates.
That has not gone unnoticed within the club or among former players.
In recent weeks, Rice has even captained the side in the absence of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, which highlights how highly he is regarded by Mikel Arteta and his teammates.
Interestingly, he was given that responsibility ahead of Gabriel Magalhaes, which says a lot about his standing in the dressing room.
Former Arsenal midfielder Lansbury seems to be a big fan of Rice and believes that the midfielder has the personality and presence to become the focal point of the team – much like Keane.
He told Goal: “Big statement best in the world, but he’s definitely up there. He’s come into that role and really gripped it for himself, and he looks phenomenal in that team.
“I really want them to give him the captain’s armband and make him the focal point of that team and build around him because he’s a bit like a Roy Keane of Man United, isn’t he?
“He could really grip that up and put the armband on and take that team to the next level.”
Fill in the blank: Arsenal’s captain should be _____________
Declan Rice is unlikely to be made Arsenal captain even if Martin Odegaard leaves
There have been some question marks surrounding Martin Odegaard’s future at Arsenal.
The Norwegian will enter the final two years of his contract this summer, which could force the club into making a decision. If there is no plan to extend his deal, selling him could become a realistic option.
However, even in that scenario, Rice may not be the one to take the armband permanently.
Bukayo Saka appears to be the natural successor. He is the vice-captain, the longest-serving player in the squad and the highest-paid as well.
That makes him the logical choice to become the club’s next captain if the situation arises.
Rice, however, would still play a major leadership role within the team and would not be far behind in that hierarchy.
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