Mikel Arteta has revealed Declan Rice is Arsenal’s emergency centre-back in case they need him in games.
The Gunners have a strong squad, but not the biggest in the Premier League or Europe.
Over the years, they have bolstered their squad with some of the finest defenders worldwide to make themselves safer at the back.
This is one reason they have remained one of the top clubs in England, but sometimes injuries and suspensions could deny a team of its best players.
Arsenal has a contingency plan and after their game against PSV, Arteta confirmed Rice is the player they will turn to if they have an emergency in defence.
He said, as quoted by the Daily Mail:
‘We are very short at the back and I really wanted to try if something happens, how we’re going to resolve that situation.
‘I thought he was really good.
‘He has played there before. We have to try as if we have an emergency we have to understand and to be sure that we can fill that gap in the right way.
‘He has a lot of composure on the ball, he wins a lot of duels for a player of his size and he has done it in the past. He is a good option.’
Just Arsenal Opinion
Rice is a very good and versatile player and we seem lucky to have him in our squad now.
The Englishman has not put a foot wrong since he joined us in the summer and he might become our best signing under Mikel Arteta.
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We need to fix this squad depth once and for all
So what about White and Kiwior? Rediculous!
White is the RB(unless Cedric is used in such as emergency situation) and Kiwior is the alternative at LB and LCB,that leaves Saliba with no alternative in the absence of Tomiyasu and Timber. I think Rice is a good alternative in such a scenario because he has experience playing there. But this also highlights the need for a defender in the next transfer window,possibly on loan.
Dont agree. Players, like White were bought as CB.
White was certainly bought as CB then became an unintended RB. He’s a good RB but too expensive because we paid CB money
Correct but he was bought as a CB.