Mikel Arteta hints at new role for Declan Rice as Thomas Partey transfer admission opens up options

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that Declan Rice could be deployed in a variety of different roles at the club following his £105 million move from West Ham.

Arteta's comments came after he was asked whether Rice and Thomas Partey could play together in the same starting XI. The Spaniard said that he had planned for the duo to be able to coexist in midfield, and that it was something that the club had not had in recent years.

"If you want to improve the squad and have more quality, you need players that can improve the squad and players in the same position that can fight for the same places," Arteta said. "It's something that we haven't had in the last few years. We wanted to improve that. That's why we bought Declan as well."

Rice is primarily a defensive midfielder, but he is also capable of playing in a more advanced role. Arteta has suggested that he could be used as a box-to-box midfielder, or even as a right-back.

The versatility of Rice is a major asset for Arsenal, and it gives Arteta a number of different options in midfield. It will be interesting to see how the Spaniard deploys the England international next season.