🧠 Food for Thought - Declan Rice: A Six or an Eight?
- John Maurice Otieno
- Aug 5, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 3
"Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice is a tune that's quickly manifested into an earworm for most of the Emirates faithful, thanks in large part to the arrival of Arsenal's current record signing, Declan Rice. The midfielder's been quite the revelation in his first season at the club, quickly becoming a fan favorite with stellar performances in the middle of the park.
Ergo, the last thing you'd expect would be the "Midfield General" sparking a heated debate amongst the fanbase: is he a six or an eight? A non-negative controversy, thanks to his excellent showing in both roles. With over 240 appearances in his career as a Defensive Midfielder (DM), you'd think the conversation's moot. However, due to recent blistering performances as a Central Midfielder (CM) in a title-chasing team that took the race to the wire, Declan's best position has become the subject of much scrutiny.
So, is he a six or an eight? To come to an informed conclusion, we must first fathom both roles. Remember, details matter.
What is a Six?
According to Coaches' Voice, a number six is a deep-lying midfielder or DM who plays at the base of a central-midfield unit. This can be a single player supporting two eights ahead, or two sixes operating underneath a single ten. The in-possession responsibilities of a six are as follows:
Link-Up: Operating mostly in the spaces ahead of the centre-backs (CBs) and offering short-passing options, a six is often the main passing link between the back line and the midfield unit.
Build-Up: With a good understanding of movements and rotations, a six may be required to drop into the back line during build-up play, either splitting the CBs or moving to one side.
Scanning: Awareness of space, teammates and opposition press allows a DM to receive and play forward as often as possible, receiving on the half-turn and breaking lines.
Switch: Being the team's main passing link, a six must be able to accurately switch play across the pitch, away from pressure.
Attack: When higher up the pitch, a six recognizes when to change the tempo of an attack. They also play passes through, around or over a block, unlocking defences.
Distant Passing: A six can also connect directly with the front line from deep via longer passes. Targeting the spaces in behind, they can hit diagonals for wingers or bend passes for a centre-forward (CF).
Rice as a Six.
Since Declan Rice plays in an Arsenal team known for dominating possession, with his defensive acuity common knowledge, we'll focus on his in-possession abilities vis-à-vis the metrics outlined above. The eye-test will easily tell you he's a world-class midfielder, but what do the numbers say?
Link-Up: Ranking in the 83rd percentile for short pass completion percentage (92.7% per 90), as well as in the 91st percentile for medium pass completion (93.2% per 90), Rice is quite accomplished at being a short-passing outlet, linking the defense and midfield.
Build-Up: With a 79th percentile ranking for touches in the defensive third (16.33 per 90), Declan's pretty decent at dropping into the back line to help build up play.
Scanning: A ranking in the 81st percentile for passes received (53.81 per 90) indicates the England international is acutely press-resistant.
Switch: Declan registers an 80th percentile ranking for switches (0.58 per 90).
Attack: The midfielder ranks in the 65th percentile for key passes (1.20 per 90). The 14th percentile through-balls ranking (0.04 per 90), however, indicates a general inadequacy to break defensive lines.
Distant Passing: The 57th percentile ranking for long pass completion percentage (64.6% per 90) could be better. However, the 88th percentile ranking for passes into final third (6.51) gives reason for optimism.
Stats courtesy of FBRef. Player compared to positional peers in Men's Big 5 Leagues, UCL, UEL over the last 365 days. Based on 4063 minutes played
What is an Eight?
As per Coaches' Voice, a number eight is a CM who traditionally operates as a box-to-box player, doing both attacking and defensive jobs. The role requires lots of energy and number eights can operate in a central-midfield two, as part of a three, or on either side of a diamond behind a ten. The in-possession responsibilities of an eight include:
Link-Up: Operating mostly in central areas, number eights are tasked with connecting defense with attack and the right side of the team with the left.
Build-Up: An eight may drop deep to receive the ball and help in the build-up phase. When part of a midfield three, they can stay deeper for longer, with the other eight moving across to fill the gap left in the centre of the pitch.
Forward Runs: An eight adds extra central presence underneath the front line with forward runs from midfield, targeting the space in between the opposition full-back (FB) and CB.
Switch: An eight plays a key role in a team switching play, crossing from withdrawn positions.
Attack: The CM shoots from distance and combines in central areas with the team's striker(s). They can also provide height to support in attack if needed.
Rice as an Eight.
How does Rice fare in the attributes outlined above?
Link-Up: A 74th percentile ranking for touches in the middle third (40.47 per 90), as well as a 77th percentile ranking for touches in the final third (18.10 per 90), paint Rice as a CM well capable of linking defense with attack.
Build-Up: As indicated earlier, with a 79th percentile ranking for touches in the defensive third (16.33 per 90), Rice doesn't shy away from dropping deep to help build up play.
Forward Runs: This is perhaps one of the highly dynamic midfielder's biggest strengths, ranking in the 82nd percentile for progressive carries (2.22 per 90) and a whopping 96th percentile for progressive carrying distance (148.77 per 90).
Switch: As earlier stated, Declan possesses an 80th percentile ranking for switches (0.58 per 90), indicating relative comfort in his ability to switch play. He also ranks in the 71st percentile for crosses (1.71 per 90).
Attack: The versatile player ranks in the 71st percentile for shots (1.37 per 90), 75th percentile for shots on target (0.44 per 90) and 81st percentile for goals (0.16 per 90). He also ranks in the 86th percentile for assists (0.20 per 90), registering impressive output in the final third.
Stats courtesy of FBRef. Player compared to positional peers in Men's Big 5 Leagues, UCL, UEL over the last 365 days. Based on 4063 minutes played.
The Rice Arsenal Needs.
In the 2023/24 season, Declan Rice made 24 appearances (1987 minutes) for us as a six in the Premier League, scoring thrice (662 minutes per goal) and assisting a further four goals.
As an eight, the midfielder made 14 appearances (1244 minutes) for us in the league campaign of his debut season, assisting five goals and scoring four (311 minutes per goal).
These numbers alone tell you the whole story. Rice was more prolific with less minutes as an eight, indicating his abilities are better served higher up the pitch. Furthermore, with the engine and stamina to maraud up and down the pitch, I feel some of Rice's biggest strengths would be wasted as a deep-lying holding midfielder.
"The England international’s amazing engine, coupled with high technical quality, make him ideal for a box-to-box role."
- Adrian Clarke writing on Declan Rice for Arsenal
The Nutshell.
So, in a nutshell, is Declan Rice a six or an eight? He's clearly both! Such is the strength in his versatility. Contrary to common misconception, he does possess the passing range to play as a six. Albeit the inadequate through balls highlight room for improvement in effectively breaking defensive lines. As an eight, however, he's virtually perfect in my opinion, with a knack for dynamic progressive carries, box-crashing with late lung-busting runs from deep and significant goal-contribution output. When we lost Granit Xhaka after a season in which he played that role successfully, I thought Rice would be the ideal replacement. Having played the majority of his minutes in that position in last season's run-in, it'd appear Arteta also richly appreciates Rice as a box-to-box left CM.
However, with the strong links to Mikel Merino, that may not be particularly true, unless the boss decides to deploy Merino as the deepest of the midfield three. Either way, it's exciting to see how this all shapes up as a new season dawns.
"My first discussions with [Mikel Arteta] was to go to Arsenal and play as a six. But, as we started to play more Arteta liked me in the eight role and it gave us more balance - I can play both and I am happy to play eight or six."
- Declan Rice speaking on his role at Arsenal | Quote courtesy of Gunnerblog on X
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