Scholes claims Rice could be 'virtually unplayable' with one change
Paul Scholes believes Declan Rice has one glaring habit holding him back from reaching Steven Gerrard territory, and it comes down to something as simple as how many touches he takes.
Rice has established himself as one of the Premier League's most complete midfielders since his move to Arsenal, with the club paying a record fee to bring him in from West Ham. His influence on Mikel Arteta's side has been significant, and few would argue against the transfer already paying off.
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But Scholes, never one to dish out praise without a caveat, says there is still another gear Rice can find. Speaking via Metro Sport, the former Manchester United midfielder explained exactly what he thinks is missing from Rice's game.
Scholes' assessment of Rice
“Declan Rice has been good, but I've probably been a bit critical of Declan a few times,” Scholes said. “My only thing with Declan Rice, I still think he takes too many touches for a midfield player. If he decides to just play one and two touch and run, he'll be virtually unplayable, almost in a Steven Gerrard type of way.”
It is a specific and fairly technical critique. Scholes is not questioning Rice's engine, his tackling, or his leadership, all qualities he has shown regularly since arriving in north London. Instead, the focus is purely on decision making in possession, and how a quicker release could transform Rice from a very good midfielder into one of the Premier League's most feared.
The Gerrard comparison
Invoking Gerrard's name is not something done lightly. The former Liverpool captain is remembered as one of the most dominant all-action midfielders of his generation, someone capable of dragging a team forward through sheer force of will combined with precise, incisive play.
Scholes clearly sees the raw tools in Rice to get somewhere close to that standard. The suggestion is that by trimming down his touches and playing with greater urgency on the ball, Rice would become even harder for opposition midfielders to deal with, adding another dimension to a game that already combines defensive discipline with progressive passing.
Rice has time on his side to build towards that kind of legacy at Arsenal. He is still relatively early into his spell at the club, and sustained excellence over several seasons, rather than any single campaign, is what separates very good midfielders from genuine legends in the mould of Gerrard.
Whether Rice takes Scholes' advice on board or not, the comparison itself speaks to how highly he is now regarded across the English game. For a player once criticised for being more of a defensive anchor than a dynamic force, being mentioned in the same breath as Gerrard marks a significant shift in perception.
