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00:04 Hello, welcome to another episode of the Chris Wheatley Show.
00:07 Shots TV's one-stop shop to keep you in the know on all things Arsenal.
00:11 I'm your host, Jason Jones.
00:13 I'm joined, as always, by Chris Wheatley.
00:15 This week, we'll be discussing the international break,
00:17 bringing you the latest team news ahead of this weekend's decisive clash
00:21 with Manchester City.
00:22 As always, we'll be putting your listener questions to Chris,
00:24 so that as well.
00:26 So without further ado, Chris, plenty to get through.
00:28 Arsenal, obviously, not in action over the weekend,
00:31 but plenty of Arsenal players playing for their respective countries.
00:35 And a really huge piece of news regarding Declan Rice,
00:38 who is expected to captain England for the first time
00:42 in his 50th appearance on Tuesday night,
00:45 when they play Belgium in a friendly at Wembley.
00:48 I mean, a really massive achievement for the Arsenal man, isn't it?
00:53 Yeah, it is.
00:54 He's had a magnificent rise over the past year or so, Declan Rice.
00:59 He's won that European trophy of West Ham, of course,
01:03 and then he joined Arsenal for a club record fee
01:06 in the sum of £100 million.
01:08 And now he's been named England captain for the first time.
01:12 It's a really impressive rise from him and completely deserved as well,
01:16 I think, after his performances in the last few months, you can say.
01:21 I think some people maybe were questioning whether £100 million
01:25 was a bit too much for Declan Rice when he joined the club in the summer,
01:29 but those questions have been silenced now.
01:32 No one is saying that.
01:33 And I think the most impressive thing about Rice is, for me,
01:37 his character on and off the pitch.
01:39 He's a really positive player, which all of his teammates like him.
01:43 He's very likeable as well, as you can see in interviews.
01:46 And I think he comes across as a great speaker.
01:48 And I think Gareth Southgate has certainly noticed that.
01:51 And I think that's one of the reasons why he's decided to pick him as captain
01:55 for the first time in an England shirt.
01:58 So, yeah, great news and disappointing defeat, of course,
02:01 for England against Brazil.
02:02 I know it was only a friendly game,
02:05 but I'm sure those England players wanted to win, of course,
02:07 and Declan Rice was part of that team and he'll be looking for a better result coming up.
02:16 Absolutely. I mean, you mentioned it there, Chris,
02:18 not the most scintillating display from England,
02:21 I think it's fair to say, on Friday night,
02:23 but, you know, in credit to Declan Rice,
02:26 another solid display from him in the heart of midfield.
02:29 I mean, it's really becoming a hallmark of his game,
02:32 both at club and international level, isn't it?
02:35 That dependability and the way that he sort of brings those around him into the game as well.
02:42 It is. And when you look at his performance against Brazil,
02:44 and I'm going to bring you those stats as always,
02:47 I think 94 touches, 76 passes, 92% passing accuracy.
02:51 Declan Rice has really become accustomed or known as one of the best passers of the ball in the Premier League.
02:59 And I think maybe for England,
03:01 he takes a bit of a backseat role in terms of that kind of number six defensive mid role.
03:06 For Arsenal this season, especially in recent games,
03:09 we've seen him going forward.
03:10 And I was listening to a sports radio station the other day
03:14 where they were speaking about Declan Rice's best position.
03:18 A lot of fans, they want to see him play further forward,
03:21 but there's a lot of competition in that England team at the moment, Jay.
03:24 So I think one of the things that Declan Rice is just hoping to do is be a regular starter,
03:30 which it looks like now he's nailed down that place in the midfield.
03:34 So yeah, really impressive.
03:37 He won four out of his five duels, two chances created. Despite the defeat,
03:42 I think Declan Rice was arguably one of the best players on the pitch.
03:45 And yeah, he just keeps on going and really does look like probably the signing of the summer for Arsenal.
03:53 I think for me at this stage, he's very much in the same ballpark as a Harry Kane,
04:00 John Stones, Jordan Pickford. When you look at those first names on the team sheet for Southgate,
04:05 you know, the players who are almost indispensable for England at this stage.
04:10 And I think Rice is absolutely one of those. To the extent that the conversation at the moment
04:15 doesn't seem to be whether he will start, but rather who do you start alongside him?
04:20 Do you try and get the best out of him? I mean, at this stage,
04:23 it would appear that Jude Bellingham is almost certainly going to be sort of attacking midfielder,
04:29 if you like, that number 10 role that he's really thrived in for Real Madrid this season.
04:33 I suppose the big question now, Chris, is who do you bring in alongside Declan Rice?
04:38 Obviously, Jordan Henderson is an option, has a lot of detractors.
04:42 Connor Gallagher maybe didn't seize the opportunity in the way that he would have liked to on Saturday.
04:47 It wasn't necessarily his best. And obviously, Kobi Manu as well,
04:52 the young Manchester United midfielder in the squad for the first time.
04:55 I mean, is there any player that you look at and think, you know,
04:59 maybe he is one that England should go with and also the one to bring the best out of Rice?
05:06 Yeah, you mentioned quite a few names there. I've also seen Trent as a potential option.
05:11 I think for me, Kobi Manu has made a really fast rise,
05:17 hasn't he, to the first team of United and now his country.
05:20 And I think, you know, if you're old enough or if you're good enough, you're old enough to play.
05:28 And I think that's what we've seen with Kobi Manu.
05:30 He's certainly someone who could partner Declan Rice in midfield.
05:37 I mean, for me personally, I think at the moment Jordan Henderson has been kind of Gareth Southgate's favoured player,
05:45 even when he hasn't been playing, even when he was in Saudi Arabia, just seems to really be liked by Gareth Southgate.
05:54 And I think a lot of that is, again, due to his character, due to his leadership qualities that he brings to the team.
06:00 So it will be interesting to see what Gareth Southgate does against Belgium.
06:05 Again, I think it's going to be another maybe kind of experimentation, maybe a different kind of midfield.
06:12 But yeah, I think there's quite a few options, quite a few players who can partner Rice and Benningham there.
06:20 And obviously another Arsenal player who missed out on that match on Saturday, Kai Pekka.
06:24 I'm sure we'll speak about him in more detail when we get on to team news ahead of the clash against City at the weekend.
06:31 But I mean, probably a perfect illustration of why England need Kai Pekka and Saka to be fit and firing,
06:37 because they really sort of struggle to create chances on Saturday.
06:42 Yeah, Saka is such a key player for club and country.
06:45 And you look at his assists and goals numbers this season, he's been arguably one of the best players,
06:51 well not even arguably, he has been one of the best players in the Premier League.
06:55 Yeah, he's a big miss for England, of course.
06:58 And it shows really, doesn't it, that when he's not playing,
07:02 there is that kind of lack of clinicalness in the final third.
07:06 So yeah, Saka is fighting to be fit for the game against Manchester City at the weekend.
07:15 He'll be hoping to be ready.
07:17 Let's see. I think all the signs are positive that he came back to Arsenal to continue his recovery.
07:24 Gabriel Martinelli as well, fighting to be fit.
07:27 Arsenal will be hoping those players are ready for the game because, of course,
07:30 they've been really key to the attacking side of Arsenal this season.
07:34 (upbeat music)
07:36 (upbeat music)
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