Thomas Tuchel has already hinted at how he could use one Arsenal star as England manager

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Several Arsenal players past and present have featured for the England National Team in recent years, and they will now have a new manager.

Former England manager Gareth Southgate stepped down from his post after losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain in the summer, and Lee Carsley was appointed interim coach until a successor was found.

Southgate was somewhat unpopular amongst Arsenal fans. Ben White’s fallout with staff member Steve Holland, and his subsequent absence from the National Team left a bad taste, whilst the way Bukayo Saka was utilised also caused frustration.

England could now be set to hire a world-class coach to replace Southgate, with former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel in talks with the English FA.

Tuchel was in charge of Bayern as they knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League last season, and the German could be a statement appointment for England.

With Saka and Declan Rice set to play huge parts for their team going forward, it will certainly be interesting to see how Tuchel utilises them, with Rice particularly admired by the potential new manager.

• READ MORE: The players with the most England caps whilst playing for Arsenal

Thomas Tuchel’s praise for Declan Rice before joining Arsenal

Arsenal signed Rice from West Ham in a club-record deal in 2023, a move even more significant given that he rejected interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City to sign for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Rice has been outstanding since, both at the base of midfield and in a box-to-box role. Whilst Arteta saw the potential for Rice to push further forward, Tuchel’s desire to sign him at Bayern was seemingly motivated by his profile as a number six.

“It could have been an interesting addition to have a player with his character in the squad,” Tuchel stated after Rice rejected his Bayern team to join Arsenal.

“He’s a good player and he went to a good club. He has a profile that I don’t think we have in the squad. It could be interesting to have it.”

Bayern were keen on a defensive midfielder to sit behind the likes of Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich, with Rice seen as the ideal number six for Tuchel. If he becomes England manager, Rice will have a very interesting role to play.

How Thomas Tuchel plans to use Declan Rice in England team

England are lacking defensive midfielders beyond Rice, meaning that he will likely be used as a number six behind more attacking options.

Whilst Southgate did use Kobbie Mainoo alongside him at times, it seems very likely that Tuchel will not view him as an attacking option, but will want to use the plan he envisaged for Rice at Bayern.

Tuchel has highlighted Rice’s leadership qualities, meaning that if the manager stays in the England job in the long-term, the Arsenal star could be a contender to succeed Harry Kane as captain.

Whilst Arteta has used Rice in an advanced role with Thomas Partey or Jorginho behind him, Tuchel may not follow suit, and he will finally be able to work with his desired target over a year since he tried to sign him in his last club job.