Paul Scholes says Arsenal star simply isn’t his ‘type’ of player, he’s not a fan

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Paul Scholes has revealed that he’s not a fan of one particular Arsenal player.

Mikel Arteta has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal after Andrea Berta spent £250 million on eight new recruits over the summer.

The Gunners have exceptional players in every single position, and this is being evidenced in their form so far this season.

Arsenal progressed into the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday, while they also sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League and have won all three of their Champions League fixtures.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Paul Scholes says Declan Rice isn’t his ‘type’ of midfielder

Declan Rice has been exceptional for Arsenal so far this season.

The midfielder is thriving in a slightly different role alongside Martin Zubimendi, which allows him to drop deeper than he was for large periods of last campaign.

Despite being lauded generally for his performances, the 26-year-old doesn’t have the support of everyone in the media.

Paul Scholes has been vocal in his criticism of Rice, and the former Manchester United star has once again reiterated this.

Speaking on the Stick to Football Podcast, Scholes was coy on whether Rice should start for England, whilst claiming that the Arsenal man simply isn’t his ‘type’ of midfielder.

“Who would be your starting midfield for England now?” asked Jill Scott.

“Bellingham has to be in there just because his goals, and he’s a good player,” Scholes replied. 

“I’m trying to think of a midfield player. My mind’s gone blank. I know there’s Declan Rice, and people say you didn’t have Declan Rice in your top five. He’s not my type of midfield player.

“I did a top five the other week, and because I don’t put people like [Moises] Caicedo and Rice, because I like a different type of midfielder. I like a Vitinha, at PSG, I think he’s brilliant. He’s amazing. I thought [Alexis] Mac Allister last year at Liverpool was brilliant, I know he’s not started great this year.

“I like that more, not so much an attacking midfielder, but more controlling one who can do a bit of everything, not just the defensive one who gets around a bit and might score the odd goal.”

Declan Rice can ‘do a bit of everything’

Scholes’ perception of Rice as a ‘defensive’ midfielder who ‘gets around a bit’ is very wide of the mark.

The legendary United man claimed he likes midfielders who do everything, and this is, in essence, what Rice actually does.

The former West Ham United man is adept at almost every aspect of the game, from progressing the ball through passing and carrying, to winning the ball back, to contributing in the final third.

He’s one of the most complete midfielders in the world, and the data clearly reflects this.

Scholes seems to be set on the idea that Rice is merely a functional, workmanlike player with little technical ability or ability to be a metronomic playmaker.

When Rice is deployed as a six, he demonstrates that he’s more than capable of operating as a ‘controlling’ midfielder.