Mikel Arteta challenges Declan Rice with specialist new role to create ‘chaos’

Mikel Arteta has challenged Declan Rice to add long throws to his set-piece repertoire, ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Brentford.

Since joining the Gunners in 2023, the England star has developed into a set-piece specialist in a side that has become deadly from his deliveries from corners and free-kicks.

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Flying high at the top of the Premier League table, the north Londoners also lead the way for set-piece goals this season.

They hold a joint lead with Manchester United here, with both sides registering 10, but are yet to register a goal from a throw-in.

This responsibility is held by Rice, who has developed into Arsenal’s designated thrower in attacking positions.

And the 26-year-old will come up against a specialist in this field on Wednesday night, as the Gunners host known long throw exponents Brentford at the Emirates, live on talkSPORT.

Leading the Bees’ threat is right-back Michael Kayode, who has the longest average throw-in distance in the division by more than five metres (33.2m).

His delivery has paid dividends, helping Keith Andrews’s side to score three times from these situations this season. 

Rice to the challenge

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s next match, Arteta made it clear that his side are well aware of the danger Brentford pose in this area.

And while he admitted Kayode stands head and shoulders above the rest with the ball in his hands for now, he tipped Rice to compete with him.

Discussing the Italian’s throw-in threat, the Spaniard said: “A massive weapon,”

“We all know that. It is a very chaotic situation – it is very difficult to predict what is going to happen.”

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AFP

When it was suggested Rice is not as good as Kayode, Arteta said: “Who is? Everything has to evolve.

“I don’t know how good [Kayode] was a year ago, or two years ago or three years ago.

“I know how good Declan was at taking set pieces three or four years ago and I know how good he is now. So, it does not happen overnight.

“Things have to be trained, evolved and tweaked. And the player has to believe as well, which is key. When you look at Declan, he can do almost everything you require him to do.”

Battle of the set pieces

It’s fair to say Rice has mastered the art of set-piece taking in just over two years at the Emirates.

As well as swinging in deadly deliveries for his teammates, the midfielder has developed into a goal threat himself from free kicks.

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This includes one of his free-kicks against Real Madrid in the Champions League in April, which has been nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award.

Despite Arsenal’s attacking threat from set pieces, Arteta warned his side must be switched on when dealing with Brentford’s long throws.

The 43-year-old went as far as to compare Kayode’s throws to that of to former Stoke midfielder Rory Delap, which the Gunners boss came up against during his playing days at Everton and Arsenal.

Arteta said of Brentford: “They certainly have that weapon like Stoke had, and like other teams are trying to build as well, because obviously of the difficulty, because of the organisation of the teams, to score goals and to produce big chances.

“It is decreasing and they have that opportunity every time the ball goes out of play.”

Arsenal will certainly be hoping to manage Brentford’s threat, as they target three points that would see them extend their lead at the Premier League summit to five points.

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Manchester City closed the gap to just two points with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Fulham, and the Gunners will look to strike back immediately after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday.