Declan Rice and Mason Mount: Intrinsically Linked at Manchester United and Arsenal
Declan Rice and Mason Mount have been intrinsically linked since their days in the Chelsea youth academy. The two England internationals have gone on to have successful careers in the Premier League, with Mount recently joining Manchester United and Rice at Arsenal. Despite the two being tipped to form a long-standing partnership at Chelsea, circumstances have dictated that they now line up on opposite sides for their respective clubs.
Rice has revealed that Mount is delighted to have joined Manchester United, but insists he played no part in the midfielder’s decision to quit Chelsea. ‘I read loads of bits that said me and him were speaking saying that we’d always end up at the same club but it wasn’t like that at all,’ Rice told ESPN. ‘We never really had that chat, I know he was going through a tough time at Chelsea with a few thing and of course I was there for him and he was there for me, but obviously my situation was very different compared to his. We support each other we are very happy for each other. I spoke to him the other night after the game, he’s so happy to be at United and I’m so happy to be here at Arsenal.’
Mount starred in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Arsenal last weekend, while Rice was part of a new-look midfield for the Gunners. Mikel Arteta insists a triumvirate of Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard possess the physicality required to thrive in the Premier League. Arteta said: ‘We’re going to have to find the right balance as well, but a year ago Granit could never play that as an attacking midfielder. So let’s try to get the work done. It’s the first time we played with four players inside, and three of them had never played for us. So three out of four, they never played together ever. So, tranquilo! Day-by-day, keep doing the right things, give people opportunity to settle them into the right things and we will be fine. You use a word that is ‘physical’. So if I put Granit and Kai and I ask you who is more physical? What would you say? Kai is one metre 91, so it depends what you mean physical. Physical is (also) to run, running behind the forward, to tackle. It depends. So we will fit in with the qualities that we have, that’s for sure. And the good thing is that we have options as well. When we have a game that is more physical, we can become very physical as well. We have the right options.’
Declan Rice and Mason Mount have come a long way since their days in the Chelsea youth academy. While they may now line up on opposite sides for their respective clubs, their friendship remains strong and both are looking forward to what the future holds for them in the Premier League.
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