Alan Smith says £105m signing Declan Rice is no longer ‘essential’ to Arsenal

Alan Smith insists Declan Rice remains an ‘important’ subordinate for Arsenal but says his erstwhile nine person proved they tin header without the England midfielder.

Rice has made 66 appearances for the Gunners since completing a £105m determination from West Ham successful the summertime of 2023.

The 25-year-old did not miss a Premier League crippled past play arsenic Mikel Arteta’s broadside came agonisingly adjacent to winning the title, eventually finishing conscionable 2 points down Manchester City.

Man City besides attempted to motion Rice during his last fewer months astatine West Ham but Arsenal won the race, bringing him to the Emirates Stadium connected a ‘long-term contract’.

Rice has continued to impressment for Arsenal this play but has already missed much games than helium did during the full 2023-24 campaign, one done suspension and 1 – against Nottingham Forest connected Saturday – done injury.

The ex-Hammers skipper returned to Arsenal’s starting line-up connected Tuesday nighttime successful the Champions League thrashing astatine Sporting Lisbon but was replaced successful the 70th infinitesimal by summertime signing Mikel Merino.

Rice remains a hugely influential fig astatine Arsenal but ex-striker Smith says 5 of his team-mates are much ‘essential’ than him.

‘If I were to prime 5 players I deem indispensable to that Arsenal starting XI, I’d person to commencement with David Raya due to the fact that he’s truly been playing good and his quality with the shot astatine his feet is great,’ Smith told Mega Dice.

‘I’d past take some William Saliba and Gabriel, they’re truly important successful that centre-half presumption though Saliba much truthful than Gabriel arsenic Jurrien Timber has been getting immoderate crippled clip there.

‘My last 2 would beryllium Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Yes, Rice is important, but helium was retired astatine the play and they inactive won good truthful that’s encouraging.’

Odegaard missed much than 2 months of football aft suffering an wounded backmost successful aboriginal September but has returned from the attraction country implicit the past month.

Arsenal suffered a large wobble during Odegaard’s lack and person look much-improved since the Norwegian midfielder returned to action.

‘Martin Odegaard has made an contiguous interaction coming backmost from injury,’ Smith added.

‘It’s not often you spot a subordinate travel backmost and scope their apical level instantly, but helium seems to person done that. That’s down to his professionalism erstwhile he’s been retired and his tendency to get backmost successful and bash well.

‘He’s 1 of the astir important players there, erstwhile it’s choky against precise antiaircraft teams and you request idiosyncratic to unpick that lock, he’s their go-to antheral to bash that and amended their chances of the rubric this season.

‘I deliberation Mikel Arteta does cognize what his champion starting XI is, and much often than not he’s picked it erstwhile he’s been capable to.

‘It whitethorn person been a small departure from that against Nottingham Forest connected Saturday, though, arsenic Declan Rice has suffered a tiny injury, Kai Havertz has enactment successful a batch of enactment precocious for some nine and state – truthful a mates of his cardinal players were near out.

‘It was large they could get the triumph without those players; you’ve got to conscionable usage the squad if you’re going to situation some home and European competitions.

‘I deliberation that triumph would person fixed him much assurance successful his squad, that helium tin inactive get bully results and prime up those wins without those cardinal players.’

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