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Thierry Henry explains why ‘weird’ Declan Rice Arsenal role was crucial to Sevilla win

Latest Arsenal news as Thierry Henry heaps praise on Declan Rice while breaking down his crucial role in the Gunners beating Sevilla in the Champions League

Thierry Henry has labelled the role of Declan Rice in Arsenal’s Champions League win over Sevilla as “weird” amidst heaping praise on his complete performance. The Gunners picked up their second victory in Europe with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Sevilla in Spain.

Goals either side of half time for Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put Arsenal in control, however a header from Nemanja Gudelj forced Arsenal to defend their box valiantly for the final 30 minutes. Rice made countless interceptions in the second period as he helped Arteta’s side move onto six points in Champions League Group B.

On CBS Sports Golazo, Henry was quick to heap praise on Rice, but it was not for his defensive contributions, it was instead his crucial role in building attacks for the Gunners and winning possession back high up the pitch.

“We were wondering where Declan Rice was going to play and it was pretty easy to say that on the ball when they were low, they were always trying to free him in the build up to try and find,” the Arsenal legend said. “With Tomiyasu, you would have thought he would do what Zinchenko normally does it but they didn’t want him on the ball, they were trying to find this guy [Rice] behind Dodi Lukebakio which they did.

“He had a weird role on the night Declan Rice as he was low to build up and high to press. We talk about an offensive balance and you have a 2-3-5 with Ben White on the side and the two holding as Jorginho and Declan Rice but there is something very interesting. When White goes, Saka has to stay and keep the shape of that offensive balance which Sevilla didn’t deal with.

“Saka keeps the structure of the team, Odegaard comes but he will never go high unless they switch. Off the ball, he [Rice] plays as a 10 because he has an eye on their holding midfielder, they wanted to make sure the two holding were never going to be on the ball.”

Discussing Arsenal’s press in detail, he added: “[Sergio] Ramos has it and Declan Rice goes onto Soumare, Odegaard then goes and now you see that the job of Jorginho and Rice was to make sure those two guys are not getting the ball inside. So they don’t play inside and the ball goes back.”

Jamie Carragher then chips in to clarify exactly what Rice was doing at both ends of the pitch. “He is the centre forward, forget he is Declan Rice,” Carragher said. “So when you talk about a complete midfield player, he is the highest person to press and the deepest player to build.” Henry then replied: “That’s why Mikel Arteta went to get him because he can do so much for you, off the ball and on the ball.”

Against Chelsea, Arsenal improved when Rice dropped deeper but it was clear Arteta wanted him higher up to press when Sevilla are trying to play out from the back. So, as opposed to giving him one main job, the 24-year-old had two and he was the main reason Arsenal were able to dominate the majority of the game and go two goals in front before his role changed to cutting out the central passing lanes in the latter stages, which he did with resounding