EPL: Arteta told he’s playing Arsenal midfielder in wrong position

Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit has told manager Mikel Arteta that Declan Rice is being ‘wasted’ in his midfield role at the club.

Rice has impressed since his £105 million move to Arsenal from West Ham in the summer.

However, Petit believes the England international should only be played as a defensive midfielder rather than in a more advanced position to fill the void left by Granit Xhaka.

“Declan Rice’s priority for Arsenal should be to maintain the balance of the side and to win the ball back for his team. He does those things so well,” Petit told Compare Bet.

“I think he is wasted a bit in that No.8 role where Xhaka played last season because he is such a brilliant holding midfielder.

“You cannot ask him to play how Xhaka played last year because that is not his position.

“His best position is as a holding midfielder and that is where the manager should play him, it is fundamental to how Arteta wants to play.”