Scholes Backs Rice's Right-Back Gamble as Arsenal Face Palace Test

Paul Scholes has thrown his weight behind the idea of Declan Rice operating at right-back for Arsenal, even as the club looks to seal Premier League glory this weekend.

The England midfielder has featured in the position several times since his move to the Emirates, most recently during the decisive 1-0 victory over West Ham. Mikel Arteta's hand was forced when Ben White suffered an injury, but the manager quickly abandoned the experiment when Arsenal's midfield balance suffered without Rice in his natural role.

Gary Neville expressed his bewilderment at the tactical switch, declaring himself "stunned" by the decision to remove Rice from the engine room. "To take Declan Rice out of the middle of the pitch is a big call," the pundit observed, before noting that West Ham would have sensed an opportunity. Neville subsequently advocated for Rice's swift return to midfield, remarking that the midfielder "is not a big creator anyway."

Yet Scholes sees merit in the positional flexibility. Drawing a parallel with Roy Keane's stint at right-back during his Manchester United days, the former midfielder suggested Rice possesses the attributes to succeed there. "Roy played there loads and was brilliant," Scholes noted. "Declan Rice looks like he would suit playing at right-back to me. He can play there."

While Arsenal appear to have one hand on the title following their West Ham win, Scholes has sounded a note of caution about the final-day trip to Selhurst Park. The visit to Crystal Palace represents a genuine test, particularly with Oliver Glasner overseeing what will be his last match as manager. "In a normal year, going to Crystal Palace is hard, it's a hard game," Scholes explained. "For Glasner, it will be his final game at Selhurst Park, and the Austrian coach will be looking to go out with a bang in South London. He's not gonna wanna roll over and have his belly tickled, is he?"