Arsenal star Declan Rice says the freedom given to him by both Mikel Arteta and Thomas Tuchel is making him feel “unstoppable”.
Rice captained England in a friendly against Wales on Thursday night in the absence of the injured Harry Kane and impressed as the Three Lions ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Wembley.
The midfielder has been in fine form for Arsenal this season too and has now explained that is down to Arteta tweaking his role.
Rice has been given more licence to roam from his position, with Tuchel affording him the same freedom with England.
“I can play No6 or No8,” said Rice. “I think now I am more of a box-to-box No8.
“The manager has adjusted my position at Arsenal a bit this year, given me a bit more freedom to drop deep but also get in the box when I can.
“It is the same with Thomas. I think that really suits me on that left side of midfield. Being able to get back, being an all-round action midfielder is what I want to be and I am just enjoying my football.
“I have got two managers who lay it out really easy with the game plan, what I have to do and where I have to be.
“Obviously I am the one that has to go and execute it, but when you have confidence in football, you feel unstoppable at times.
“I ended the season really strong last year and probably didn’t start one or two games of this season as good as I wanted, but I have picked up my form now.
“I feel really strong. I feel fit, really confident in my game and hopefully the only way is up from here for England and Arsenal.”
Rice has formed a good understanding with Elliot Anderson in midfield for England.
Anderson only made his senior international debut last month, but has started the last three games and caught the eye in all of them.
Rice believes the presence of the Nottingham Forest midfielder is allowing him to push forward and have an impact higher up the pitch.
“I think you probably can’t play at a higher level,” said Rice. “He has taken it in his stride and he is playing exactly how he does for his club.
“When you have a lad who is that confident and comes in and feels like they don’t have to do anything different, they go on the pitch and everything is just like autopilot, the way he plays.
“We have built up a really strong relationship in midfield. We have a close relationship there. We are playing closer together, he is letting me go forward a little bit more. We are building a nice little partnership.
“The manager has really liked us in the last three games and he has stuck with that. We have just got to keep building on that.
“Obviously the World Cup is in the summer, still a long way to go, but the more we can play, keep building momentum, it will be really important.”
