Declan Rice bites back at Graeme Souness: Arsenal star claims pundit doesn't understand how the game has evolved over 'old man's football' criticism - and jokes: 'My numbers aren't bad "for a centre-back!"'

Published: 15:30 EST, 14 November 2026 | Updated: 15:40 EST, 14 November 2026 Declan Rice has laughed off criticism from Graeme Souness by claiming his numbers 'aren't bad for a centre back', after he was accused of playing 'old man's football' and 'cheating' by dropping into defence.Souness has long believed the Arsenal and England star does not do enough for a midfielder and said recently he might as well play centre back, adding that he would not get a game for the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.Rice is aware of what Souness has said but believes his return of 22 goals and 33 assists since joining the Gunners in 2023 disproves the former Liverpool midfielder's opinion.‘My numbers since I joined Arsenal speak for themselves,’ said Rice. ‘For a “centre back”, I think that’s not bad numbers. I’ve had a lot of assists, a lot of goals. To be a top-class centre back getting those numbers, I’m delighted with that!’Rice, who will start as an advanced midfielder when England take on Spain here in Madrid on Sunday night, added: ‘Look, Graeme’s got his opinion. I think he’s had his opinion since my West Ham days. I’ve seen his views. I can’t change his opinion. I can only do what I do, which is go on the pitch, perform, play well and block out the noise.’Rice also believes Souness, 73, may not understand how the game has evolved.England and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has laughed off Graeme Souness' criticism after he was accused of playing 'old man's football' 'cheating' by dropping into defence Pundit Souness believes Rice would not get a game for the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona‘If you speak about the positioning, the “old man's football”, look at Harry Kane, for instance,’ began Rice. 'We played him the other week and he dropped next to the centre backs 20-30 times to pick up the ball. The game is different now. It's what the game demands, to get away from your man, to go into different areas to create overloads, to create two v ones, to progress the ball up the pitch. Football is way different. It's changed a lot, and you're always trying to look for tactical advantages.‘In terms of me as a midfielder, I'm constantly watching clips with Mikel (Arteta). He's constantly coaching me on the pitch. How I can progress the ball from deep, drop next to the goalkeeper, go to full back to get on the ball, to take the ball up the pitch.‘So, I feel like we're now seeing something totally different to what he would see, but in his time football was different. He was a top-class midfielder who won lots of stuff. There's no argument against him. As a pundit, as a person, his career, you have to respect what he's done.‘I didn't get to see him play, but obviously his accolades were top, and I've never got to meet him in person. If I did, there would be no disrespect. I’d shake his hand. I’d chat with him. It’s an opinion at the end of the day. It’s football.’