Arsenal have a midfielder who mentioned he may rating 20 a season if he performed up entrance after Kai Havertz’s damage

Gabriel Jesus can be out for the season, whereas Gabriel Martinelli is injured too.

Think about that Bukayo Saka can be sidelined for the time being and you’ve got a remarkably threadbare assault.

Ethan Nwaneri may play up entrance in accordance with Mikel Arteta, however putting that type of accountability on a 17-year-old who isn’t a pure striker is ill-advised to say the least.

Arsenal could have one other in-house answer although within the form of Declan Rice.

Declan Rice may play up entrance for Arsenal

It might sound preposterous, however maybe Declan Rice may play as a striker for Arsenal within the absence of Jesus, Martinelli, Saka and Havertz.

The England worldwide actually has the bodily attributes to steer the road, he’s quick and powerful, and he’s additionally a improbable finisher.

Certainly, in accordance with Tomas Soucek, Rice was truly the most effective finisher at West Ham throughout his time on the membership.

“The most effective shooter is Declan Rice. I already informed him he ought to get 10 or 15 objectives a season. Sooner or later I believe he’ll. He’s an excellent finisher and I believe sooner or later he could have many objectives,” Soucek mentioned.

Soucek isn’t the one participant to comment on Rice’s ending both.

James Maddison praised Rice’s capturing potential after seeing his stats on the brand new EA FC online game.

“I simply suppose Declan’s capturing is that top. Once more for what they’re providing you with. I see you shoot in coaching on a regular basis and it needs to be method larger than that,” Maddison mentioned.

“That could be a shame, it could possibly’t be based mostly on what number of objectives you rating, you’re a six, however the photographs that you just do.”

What Declan Rice has mentioned about enjoying up entrance

It’s not simply Rice’s friends who’ve remarked on his ending potential.

Certainly, Rice himself has mentioned the concept of enjoying up entrance previously as effectively, claiming that he’d rating 20 a season if he was a quantity 9.

“If you happen to may swap positions for one recreation solely the place would you play and why?” Rice was requested.

“Quantity 9, a giant goal man,” Rice mentioned.

“What number of objectives are you getting?” Rice was requested.

“A season? 20 plus,” Rice mentioned.

Rice has by no means performed immediately as a quantity 9, however there have been intervals in video games the place he has wandered ahead and been one thing of an auxiliary striker.

Adrian Clarke famous final season that Rice was enjoying like a striker at occasions for Arsenal.

“Declan Rice, his efficiency was fascinating. He was charging round as a striker,” Clarke mentioned.

“He’s doing this an increasing number of. He did it for the Saka purpose in opposition to Newcastle the place Havertz nicks it. For the primary purpose he mainly stood up entrance and for his purpose, simply watch him, he’s mainly standing up entrance, then he reveals for the ball like a striker and finishes like a striker would.”

Rice could effectively have what it takes to play as a striker. In spite of everything, he outperformed his anticipated objectives tally by a way final season.

Certainly, Rice scored seven league objectives final season from an xG of simply 3.32, so he is aware of methods to discover the online.

Arsenal gamers who’ve modified positions

Let’s not overlook, Arsenal have had loads of pleasure lately when altering a participant’s place too.

Kai Havertz was initially introduced in as a midfield participant and he ended up going up entrance, whereas Bukayo Saka was a left-back in the beginning of his profession earlier than turning into top-of-the-line wingers on the earth.

In the meantime, famously, Thierry Henry got here to Arsenal after spending most of his profession as a left winger, however he ended up being the most effective striker within the Premier League.

Even in latest occasions, this season Myles Lewis-Skelly has retrained as a left-back after rising as a younger midfielder within the academy.

Mikel Arteta isn’t afraid to shuffle his items round when he must, and, perhaps, simply perhaps, shifting Rice up entrance isn’t a foul concept.