Arteta reveals private Rice chat: 'You are not the lighthouse anymore'

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Mikel Arteta has revealed he delivered a pointed message to Declan Rice at the start of the season, telling the midfielder directly that his role in the team has changed.

Speaking after Arsenal's 2-1 comeback win over Leeds United at the Emirates, where James Justin's opener was cancelled out by Riccardo Calafiori before substitute Bruno Guimaraes struck the winner, Arteta was asked whether he had wanted Rice to focus more on contributing assists and passes in the final third this season. His answer was blunt.

\u201cYes,\u201d Arteta said, before explaining how he approached the conversation. \u201cI went to him and I said, and it's a private conversation, but you are not the lighthouse anymore, you are something else. At the end of the season I can tell you what, this is where I want to take him, but he's not the lighthouse anymore, he's something else and he needs to prove that on the pitch.\u201d

A tough three weeks for Arteta

The win over Leeds came after a difficult stretch for Arsenal, who returned from the international break still processing a heavy defeat and a squad missing 16 players. Arteta admitted the performance that preceded this run had left him questioning himself.

\u201cThe first few days, week, not great, especially because you question yourself, what you haven't done in that game to be able to witness again that my eyes were in pain,\u201d he said. \u201cFirst of all, what I could have done better, what we lacked, there were a lot of factors, it was the fourth game, away from home as well, about this incredible schedule, and sometimes you play an opponent that on the day can be better than you, and they were better than us, especially in two very key things.\u201d

Against Leeds, Arteta felt something had been \u201ctouched\u201d in Arsenal's identity following the defeat to Brighton, and wanted a reaction. \u201cEvery time we put that shirt on, the last time that we put our shirts on, something was missing and we need to be very conscious of that,\u201d he said. \u201cFrom being exceptional, I mean the champions, to being extremely average like in that game is a really thin line.\u201d

Guimaraes impact praised again

Guimaraes, who scored the winner after coming off the bench, has now made a decisive impact in back-to-back matches, having done the same against Sunderland. Arteta pointed to the Brazilian's experience as the key factor. \u201cThat's the quality that is needed at this level to continue to win,\u201d he said, while also noting Guimaraes was below his best at Brighton. \u201cThis is the level for Arsenal, every week, every game, every minute, every action you have to be at that level and at Brighton he wasn't and today he was much better.\u201d

Arteta also praised Noni Madueke's performance on the left, saying the winger had been \u201cthe best player in training in the last 10 days,\u201d and touched on managing the returning internationals, including Myles Lewis-Skelly and Viktor Gyokeres, as Arsenal prepare for a congested run of fixtures. The quotes were provided via football.london, who transcribed Arteta's full post-match press conference.

Arsenal now turn their attention to a quick turnaround, with Arteta flagging a demanding schedule of matches in the days ahead.