​Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has defended Declan Rice after Graeme Souness once again questioned the Arsenal midfielder’s qualities, insisting the England international is far from limited and still has room to become even more influential.
Rice has been one of Arsenal’s most important players since making his high-profile move to the Emirates, and his performances have helped justify the major fee the Gunners paid to sign him. The midfielder has quickly become a key figure for both club and country, earning praise for his consistency, work rate, leadership and ability to control games in the middle of the pitch.
Despite that, Souness has remained one of Rice’s most vocal critics. The former Liverpool midfielder has repeatedly suggested that Rice does not offer enough in certain areas of the game and has argued that the Arsenal star is not as complete as many pundits and supporters believe. His latest comments came after England’s World Cup semi-final defeat, with Souness again using the opportunity to analyse Rice’s performances during the tournament.
Rice played an important role for England throughout the competition, even though he was not believed to be at full fitness. His presence in midfield remained vital for the national team, with his defensive awareness, positioning and ability to break up opposition attacks making him one of Gareth Southgate’s most trusted players. Many England fans and Arsenal supporters viewed his contribution as another example of why he is considered among the best midfielders in world football.
At Arsenal, Rice has become one of Mikel Arteta’s most dependable players. Since arriving for a club-record transfer fee, he has settled quickly and consistently delivered strong performances in the Premier League and in Europe. His impact has been so significant that many supporters no longer focus on the size of the transfer fee, instead viewing him as a player who has raised the standard of Arsenal’s midfield.
However, Souness has not been persuaded by those performances. He has often argued that Rice needs to show more ambition on the ball and contribute more in attacking areas. While some believe those comments are harsh, others feel the midfielder can still add more goals and assists to his game as he continues to develop.
Hasselbaink has now offered a different view, defending Rice and making it clear that he does not agree with Souness’ assessment. Speaking about the Arsenal midfielder, as quoted by Talk Sport, Hasselbaink said: “I don’t think that he’s limited. I don’t agree with Graeme. I’ve seen him from close, I’ve seen him in training, I’ve seen him in games.
“I think he can be even more dominant by believing more in himself. I think he can also score more goals. I think he can shoot more at goal.
“Those kinds of things can be added, but have to be put in his mind.”
Hasselbaink’s comments suggest that Rice’s game is still evolving, but not because he lacks quality. Instead, the former Chelsea striker believes the Arsenal midfielder can become even more dominant if he adds greater belief and attacking confidence to his performances. That is a very different argument from calling Rice limited, as it recognises the strength of his current level while also pointing to areas where he can continue to improve.
For Arsenal, Rice remains a crucial part of Arteta’s plans. His ability to protect the defence, carry the ball forward, win duels and dictate the tempo of matches makes him central to how the Gunners play. He has also shown that he can perform under pressure, whether in major Premier League fixtures, Champions League matches or international tournaments with England.
The debate around Declan Rice is unlikely to disappear, especially while high-profile pundits such as Graeme Souness continue to question aspects of his game. But Hasselbaink’s defence reflects the opinion held by many who have watched Rice closely: he is already an elite midfielder, and the next step is about adding more attacking authority rather than proving he belongs at the top level.
Rice may still have areas to improve, particularly when it comes to scoring more goals and taking more shots, but that is true of many top players. What is clear is that Arsenal and England continue to trust him in the biggest matches, and his influence remains vital for both teams.