Sam Allardyce shares how he’d use Arsenal’s Declan Rice if he was still England manager

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Sam Allardyce has revealed the role he’d give Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice if he were still England’s manager.

Rice has been in outstanding form for the Gunners so far this season, playing a key part in Mikel Arteta’s side’s extraordinary start to the new campaign.

Arteta has altered the England international’s responsibilities from last season, deploying him deeper on the pitch to help facilitate Arsenal’s build-up alongside Martin Zubimendi.

However, his role for his nation is still a lot less clear, with the Three Lions thus far unable to elicit the levels from Rice that he’s displayed for his club.

• READ MORE: Martin Keown now thinks Arsenal’s Declan Rice reminds him of a Man United legend

Sam Allardyce says he’d use Declan Rice as a ‘sitter’ for England

Rice has been included in England’s squad for games against Serbia and Albania this week.

Thomas Tuchel’s side have already qualified for next summer’s World Cup in North America, so the German will likely use these upcoming fixtures to experiment.

One of his primary focuses should be on finding a defined role for Rice. The £100 million man has struggled to replicate his club form for his country at times, and part of this is because he’s been used in a variety of ways and next to a revolving cast of players.

At Euro 2024, he was deployed in a double pivot next to all three of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kobbie Mainoo and Conor Gallagher. None of these players complemented him well, and he ultimately had a poor tournament.

Tuchel appears to have settled on Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson being his midfield partner, with Rice being granted more of a free role, similar to how he’s deployed for Arsenal.

However, speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Podcast, Allardyce revealed that this isn’t how he’d use the 26-year-old, instead claiming that he’d start Rice as the deepest midfielder.

“Personally, I’ve always used one sitter,” Allardyce said.

“So it would be obviously Declan Rice.

“And then, you know, Jude Bellingham, if he’s actually trying, because I think he’s gone off the boil. You know what I mean? I mean, you might need to kick up the back side, just get him where he should be.”

Declan Rice’s Statistics 2025/26

Rice’s statistics from this season show exactly how he ought to be used.

The midfielder’s data profile indicates that he can do almost everything on the pitch to a high level, and thus he should be given free rein to do so.

Not only is he an excellent passer and ball carrier from deep, Rice is adept at breaking into the box, creating chances for his teammates and is outstanding defensively.

The best way to use him is to allow him to do all of these things, while having a number six alongside him who floats between different phases of play, just like Zubimendi does.

For England, either Andersen or Adam Wharton can replicate the role the Spaniard plays.