Arsenal’s Declan Rice Tipped To Become England’s Next Captain

Former Manchester United striker and England legend, Wayne Rooney, has tipped Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice to become England’s next captain, praising his leadership qualities and commanding performance in the Premier League victory over Everton.

Rooney made the remarks after watching Mikel Arteta’s side secure a hard-fought 1-0 win at Goodison Park on Saturday evening, a result that returned Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table.

Naija News reports that the former England captain was in attendance for the encounter and singled out Rice for special praise, describing the 26-year-old as the heartbeat of Arsenal’s midfield.

Rice was influential throughout the contest, dictating the tempo, shielding the defence and contributing in attack, a performance that convinced Rooney he is ready to take on greater responsibility with the national team.

As reported by BBC Sport on Monday, Rooney said the midfielder already looks like a natural successor to current England captain, Harry Kane.

“For me, he’s the one who’s probably waiting for Harry to hang up his boots at some point,” Rooney said.

“His drive and his personality stand out. Everyone who knows him seems to love him.”

Rooney went on to break down Rice’s all-round display against Everton, highlighting his intelligence, positional awareness and technical quality.

“He was all over the pitch [against Everton]. His decision-making, when to pass it, where to pass it, what foot to pass it to, his detail on his pass, it was a pleasure to watch. He was absolutely incredible,” he said.

The former Manchester United striker also praised Rice’s tactical versatility, noting how seamlessly he switches roles during matches.

“He was splitting centre-backs, taking the ball off [Arsenal’s] centre-backs, acting as a third centre-back, then next minute he’s in the box, trying to score a goal,” Rooney added.

Rooney argued that some aspects of Rice’s game often go unnoticed, despite their importance to both club and country.

“Sometimes, some of the stuff he does is a bit underrated,” he said.

Reaffirming his belief in Rice’s leadership credentials, Rooney concluded that the Arsenal star has what it takes to lead England in the long term.

“He’s the right one to take over [Kane] for me, because [of] his drive, his personality. Everyone seems to love him, who knows him, who’s close to him. He’s irreplaceable for England,” Rooney added.