Spurs star now admits he really ‘hates’ to see 24-year-old playing for Arsenal

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Tottenham Hotspur star James Maddison is not happy that Declan Rice is now plying his trade for Arsenal.

Both James Maddison and Declan Rice made big moves in the recent summer transfer window. Arsenal paid a club-record £105 million to lure the midfielder away from West Ham United. Meanwhile, their north London rivals splashed out £40 million to snap up Maddison from relegated Leicester City.

Both players have made impressive starts to life with their new clubs. Rice has been a revelation at the Emirates Stadium, with fans already claiming that he has lived up to his price tag. Mikel Arteta has already identified Rice as a potential future club captain. 

Before an injury halted his progress in November, Maddison was impressing under Ange Postecoglou, as he racked up three goals and five assists in his first twelve outings for Spurs. Tottenham have not managed to pick up a Premier League win since Maddison was sidelined.

Rice and Maddison will both be hoping to maintain their form throughout this season, with a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for EURO 2024 to fight for.

Whilst they may be teammates at international level, Rice and Maddison now find themselves on opposite sides of the north London divide, where a fierce rivalry exists between the two clubs.

James Maddison fears Declan Rice impact at Arsenal 

The Spurs man has now admitted that seeing Rice at the Emirates Stadium concerns him. Speaking to Amazon Prime Video Sport , the 27-year-old said of Rice, “he’s got everything. He’s technically really good. He is a joke when it comes to low-cut passes. I think he’s a top, top player. I hate that he plays for Arsenal.”

Rice is indeed an elite-level midfielder. However, there is still room for improvement in his game. Arteta has made it clear that he wants to see how Rice fares further up the pitch, putting the onus on the player to become more efficient and clinical in the final third. If the 24-year-old can add goals and assists to his game on a regular basis then he will be one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League.

It is vital, in terms of the Gunners’ hopes of mounting a successful title push, that Rice is able to stay fit this season. Whether he is deployed as the deepest-lying member of the midfield trio, or in the more advanced left-eight role, he is crucial to the solidity and stability of this Arsenal team. His presence allows his teammates to push forward in numbers, confident in his ability to snuff out any potential counter-attacks.