Mikel Arteta has said Declan Rice could be used as a centre-back for the first time since 2023 as Arsenal try to deal with Gabriel’s absence as part of an injury crisis in defence.
Gabriel, who has been almost ever-present in the Gunners’ run to the Champions League quarter-finals, is out for the season as one of a string of players to be ruled out this month, with Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber suffering shorter-term issues and full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu a long-term absentee.
“We would, for sure,” Arteta replied when he was asked whether midfielder Rice could form a partnership with William Saliba. “We tried against PSV away last season. He’s a player who is capable of doing that.”
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Has Declan Rice played at centre-back?
Rice played 29 minutes as a substitute in the position against the Dutch side in Arsenal’s final group stage match of their 2023/24 European campaign, when Arteta changed almost his entire line-up, having already won the group.
He last played regularly at centre-half for West Ham during the 2017/18 campaign, also featuring there once for the Hammers in 2019/20.
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Slaven Bilic, who was West Ham’s manager until 2017 and gave Rice his debut as an 18-year-old, says the England international was likened to legendary Chelsea and England centre-back John Terry during his time as West Ham’s “biggest youth team prospect”.
“[He was a] centre-back leader, an organiser who rolls up the sleeves,” Bilic told TalkSport last month, adding that Rice only became a midfield anchor because of injuries during pre-season.
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Declan Rice in defence: ‘We need to step up’
Arteta has succeeded with the experimental use of midfielder Mikel Merino as a forward in 2024/25 and says the succession of hamstring injuries Arsenal have faced are “all completely different” issues.
“I don’t think it’s specific to Arsenal and it’s a very difficult one to put a finger on,” he reflected. “We are doing all the research and trying to understand how we can bring the possibility [of more] down as much as possible.
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“The sample is very, very small because last year, I think, we were the best team in that aspect. When you ask Willy who he wants to play next to him, the answer is clear because [Gabriel] brings qualities and makes [Saliba’s] qualities much better.
“When we lose a player and a leader like him, we need to step up. One player [alone] is not going to be able to do it.”
Worth the wait. pic.twitter.com/zbsznR63gm
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 2, 2025
Everton vs Arsenal
Second-placed Arsenal visit 15th-placed Everton on Saturday (12:30 BST) before hosting Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League last eight on Tuesday (20:00).
Top-flight leaders Liverpool are 12 points clear of Arsenal with eight league games remaining, while third-placed Nottingham Forest are four points further back.
