The Chris Wheatley Show is a brand new weekly series talking all things Arsenal and the Premier League. This week, Chris Wheatley and host Jason Jones reveal all about Declan Rice, latest injury news ahead of Manchester City v Arsenal and much more.
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:04 Hello, welcome to another episode of the Chris Wheatley Show.
00:07 Shots TV's one-stop shop to keep you in the know on all things Arsenal.
00:11 I'm your host, Jason Jones.
00:13 I'm joined, as always, by Chris Wheatley.
00:15 This week, we'll be discussing the international break,
00:17 bringing you the latest team news ahead of this weekend's decisive clash
00:21 with Manchester City.
00:22 As always, we'll be putting your listener questions to Chris,
00:24 so that as well.
00:26 So without further ado, Chris, plenty to get through.
00:28 Arsenal, obviously, not in action over the weekend,
00:31 but plenty of Arsenal players playing for their respective countries.
00:35 And a really huge piece of news regarding Declan Rice,
00:38 who is expected to captain England for the first time
00:42 in his 50th appearance on Tuesday night,
00:45 when they play Belgium in a friendly at Wembley.
00:48 I mean, a really massive achievement for the Arsenal man, isn't it?
00:53 Yeah, it is.
00:54 He's had a magnificent rise over the past year or so, Declan Rice.
00:59 He's won that European trophy of West Ham, of course,
01:03 and then he joined Arsenal for a club record fee
01:06 in the sum of £100 million.
01:08 And now he's been named England captain for the first time.
01:12 It's a really impressive rise from him and completely deserved as well,
01:16 I think, after his performances in the last few months, you can say.
01:21 I think some people maybe were questioning whether £100 million
01:25 was a bit too much for Declan Rice when he joined the club in the summer,
01:29 but those questions have been silenced now.
01:32 No one is saying that.
01:33 And I think the most impressive thing about Rice is, for me,
01:37 his character on and off the pitch.
01:39 He's a really positive player, which all of his teammates like him.
01:43 He's very likeable as well, as you can see in interviews.
01:46 And I think he comes across as a great speaker.
01:48 And I think Gareth Southgate has certainly noticed that.
01:51 And I think that's one of the reasons why he's decided to pick him as captain
01:55 for the first time in an England shirt.
01:58 So, yeah, great news and disappointing defeat, of course,
02:01 for England against Brazil.
02:02 I know it was only a friendly game,
02:05 but I'm sure those England players wanted to win, of course,
02:07 and Declan Rice was part of that team and he'll be looking for a better result coming up.
02:16 Absolutely. I mean, you mentioned it there, Chris,
02:18 not the most scintillating display from England,
02:21 I think it's fair to say, on Friday night,
02:23 but, you know, in credit to Declan Rice,
02:26 another solid display from him in the heart of midfield.
02:29 I mean, it's really becoming a hallmark of his game,
02:32 both at club and international level, isn't it?
02:35 That dependability and the way that he sort of brings those around him into the game as well.
02:42 It is. And when you look at his performance against Brazil,
02:44 and I'm going to bring you those stats as always,
02:47 I think 94 touches, 76 passes, 92% passing accuracy.
02:51 Declan Rice has really become accustomed or known as one of the best passers of the ball in the Premier League.
02:59 And I think maybe for England,
03:01 he takes a bit of a backseat role in terms of that kind of number six defensive mid role.
03:06 For Arsenal this season, especially in recent games,
03:09 we've seen him going forward.
03:10 And I was listening to a sports radio station the other day
03:14 where they were speaking about Declan Rice's best position.
03:18 A lot of fans, they want to see him play further forward,
03:21 but there's a lot of competition in that England team at the moment, Jay.
03:24 So I think one of the things that Declan Rice is just hoping to do is be a regular starter,
03:30 which it looks like now he's nailed down that place in the midfield.
03:34 So yeah, really impressive.
03:37 He won four out of his five duels, two chances created. Despite the defeat,
03:42 I think Declan Rice was arguably one of the best players on the pitch.
03:45 And yeah, he just keeps on going and really does look like probably the signing of the summer for Arsenal.
03:53 I think for me at this stage, he's very much in the same ballpark as a Harry Kane,
04:00 John Stones, Jordan Pickford. When you look at those first names on the team sheet for Southgate,
04:05 you know, the players who are almost indispensable for England at this stage.
04:10 And I think Rice is absolutely one of those. To the extent that the conversation at the moment
04:15 doesn't seem to be whether he will start, but rather who do you start alongside him?
04:20 Do you try and get the best out of him? I mean, at this stage,
04:23 it would appear that Jude Bellingham is almost certainly going to be sort of attacking midfielder,
04:29 if you like, that number 10 role that he's really thrived in for Real Madrid this season.
04:33 I suppose the big question now, Chris, is who do you bring in alongside Declan Rice?
04:38 Obviously, Jordan Henderson is an option, has a lot of detractors.
04:42 Connor Gallagher maybe didn't seize the opportunity in the way that he would have liked to on Saturday.
04:47 It wasn't necessarily his best. And obviously, Kobi Manu as well,
04:52 the young Manchester United midfielder in the squad for the first time.
04:55 I mean, is there any player that you look at and think, you know,
04:59 maybe he is one that England should go with and also the one to bring the best out of Rice?
05:06 Yeah, you mentioned quite a few names there. I've also seen Trent as a potential option.
05:11 I think for me, Kobi Manu has made a really fast rise,
05:17 hasn't he, to the first team of United and now his country.
05:20 And I think, you know, if you're old enough or if you're good enough, you're old enough to play.
05:28 And I think that's what we've seen with Kobi Manu.
05:30 He's certainly someone who could partner Declan Rice in midfield.
05:37 I mean, for me personally, I think at the moment Jordan Henderson has been kind of Gareth Southgate's favoured player,
05:45 even when he hasn't been playing, even when he was in Saudi Arabia, just seems to really be liked by Gareth Southgate.
05:54 And I think a lot of that is, again, due to his character, due to his leadership qualities that he brings to the team.
06:00 So it will be interesting to see what Gareth Southgate does against Belgium.
06:05 Again, I think it's going to be another maybe kind of experimentation, maybe a different kind of midfield.
06:12 But yeah, I think there's quite a few options, quite a few players who can partner Rice and Benningham there.
06:20 And obviously another Arsenal player who missed out on that match on Saturday, Kai Pekka.
06:24 I'm sure we'll speak about him in more detail when we get on to team news ahead of the clash against City at the weekend.
06:31 But I mean, probably a perfect illustration of why England need Kai Pekka and Saka to be fit and firing,
06:37 because they really sort of struggle to create chances on Saturday.
06:42 Yeah, Saka is such a key player for club and country.
06:45 And you look at his assists and goals numbers this season, he's been arguably one of the best players,
06:51 well not even arguably, he has been one of the best players in the Premier League.
06:55 Yeah, he's a big miss for England, of course.
06:58 And it shows really, doesn't it, that when he's not playing,
07:02 there is that kind of lack of clinicalness in the final third.
07:06 So yeah, Saka is fighting to be fit for the game against Manchester City at the weekend.
07:15 He'll be hoping to be ready.
07:17 Let's see. I think all the signs are positive that he came back to Arsenal to continue his recovery.
07:24 Gabriel Martinelli as well, fighting to be fit.
07:27 Arsenal will be hoping those players are ready for the game because, of course,
07:30 they've been really key to the attacking side of Arsenal this season.
07:34 (upbeat music)
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