Although the international scene can be somewhat of a distraction from the intense domestic club scene, the June matches often provide some reprieve from the absence of games due to the season’s conclusion. Arsenal have plenty of players representing their countries and England provides an interesting potential link-up.
Arsenal are pushing ahead with their move to sign Declan Rice. football.london understands a bid north of £90m is being prepared for the West Ham skipper as the Gunners want to get their priority business done as early as they can.
Rice has joined up with the Three Lions and Gareth Southgate for the Euro qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. He has already been pictured with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale and rumours fly regarding a potential move.
The games could provide something of a gift to Arsenal fans that they would otherwise have to wait several weeks for if indeed Edu Gaspar is successful in securing the Rice deal. Saka and Rice lining up in the same side has been a joy to watch at the previous World Cup but this time there’s a different feel to it amid the potential of a transfer.
However, the connection between Rice and Saka will depend upon the Hammers’ captain’s role in the team. Should he play similar to how he does in east London then link-ups between the two could be limited.
Throughout the entire UEFA Europa Conference League final between West Ham and Fiorentina, Rice did not play a single pass to right winger and match-winner Jarrod Bowen, meanwhile, he passed twice to the left winger Said Benrahma.
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That said, in the final Premier League game of the season against Leicester Rice played eight passes to the left, where Benrahma was, and seven to the right to Pablo Fornals. Perhaps looking at the previous England games will give a better understanding.
In the last game, England beat Ukraine 2-0 and Rice started with Bukayo Saka and James Maddison on the left. To Saka he attempted just three passes meanwhile five were sent in the direction of the Leicester attacking midfielder.
In the 2-1 win over Italy, Saka and Rice again started but it was Jack Grealish on the left wing. Interestingly he played twice the number of passes to the Arsenal wide man in comparison the Grealish, four to two.
It appears that although there might be a potential favour to the left side in more games, Rice does indeed make efforts to play the ball out to the right flank also. It will be interesting to see how Rice and Saka link play if they both start and play against Malta and North Macedonia.
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