Ex-Liverpool legend doubles down on Declan Rice claim with Arsenal 'cheating' verdict

Declan Rice has been the subject of criticism from Graeme Souness(Image: Getty Images)

Graeme Souness has again taken aim at Declan Rice, accusing the Arsenal midfielder of playing what he calls 'old man’s football.' Despite being the most expensive signing in the club's history and a key figure in their rise back to Europe's elite, Souness insists he still doesn’t rate Rice among the top midfielders.

The England international was central to Arsenal's Premier League title win last season and has become a dominant presence for both club and country - yet Souness remains unconvinced. His latest criticism centres on Rice’s positioning.

Souness argued that the 27‑year‑old often drops too deep, effectively operating as one of Arsenal's furthest‑back players. He suggested Rice gains extra time on the ball by playing almost like a centre‑back, even claiming the midfielder is 'cheating' with his positioning as part of his scathing assessment.

He said on Piers Morgan's new Football Uncensored show: "How many times do you see him as the last man with the ball. In the build-up, he's last man. He's sitting between two centre-halves or between the centre-half and the full-back. He's last man. A lot of the time, he doesn't play in midfield.

"In my second or third home game (of my career), I went into the back four like all midfield players do today. It's old man's football. It's cheating. An old man's way of playing midfield. You get the ball under no pressure and you play it out to the full-back."

Souness has long maintained that Rice's influence is restricted, despite the undeniable impact he has made at both Arsenal and England down the years. The Liverpool legend argues that, for a midfielder, he operates too deep to genuinely shape the outcome of matches.

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"He (Rice) plays too deep to affect the game," he continued. "I don't think he's got enough football. Let me tell you what he can do. He's the best defensive midfielder in the country right now, he smells danger. But then again, he's back there all the time.

"He's not a midfield player then is he? I think he may be a centre-half. The ball travels faster than you do. I see him run with the ball 30 yards and pass it square.

"He's a lovely kicker of the ball and opens his body up well, there's nothing to dislike about him. But modern players are a bit precious. Criticism doesn't fall easily on these (players') shoulders. He isn't the complete midfield player."

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