Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes believes Arsenal star Declan Rice could become virtually unplayable if he makes one significant adjustment to his style of play.

According to a report by Metro on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Scholes has challenged the England international to become quicker and more direct in possession, arguing that reducing the number of touches he takes could take his performances to another level.

Rice was outstanding as Arsenal claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The 27-year-old played a crucial role in the winning goal, producing a powerful run down the right flank before delivering an excellent cross for Kai Havertz to score.

His impressive contribution earned him the Player of the Match award, while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also praised his performance, describing him as the best central midfielder in the Premier League.

However, Scholes believes there is still room for improvement in Rice’s game, particularly when it comes to his decision-making and movement in midfield.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, the former Manchester United midfielder admitted that he had previously been critical of Rice because of his tendency to take too many touches before releasing the ball.

He believes the Arsenal midfielder sometimes slows down his team’s attacking transitions by holding possession for too long instead of moving the ball quickly and making forward runs.

Scholes said: “Declan Rice has been good, but I’ve probably been a bit critical of Declan a few times.

“My only thing with Declan Rice, I still think he takes too many touches for a midfield player.

“If he decides to just play one and two touch and run, he’ll be virtually unplayable, almost in a Steven Gerrard type of way.”

Scholes also pointed to Rice’s attacking abilities, highlighting his impressive goal against Bayern Munich a few weeks ago as evidence of his quality when driving forward with the ball.

He was particularly impressed by the midfielder’s powerful movement against Liverpool, which created the opportunity for Havertz to find the back of the net.

The former Manchester United star believes Rice has several qualities associated with Steven Gerrard, including strength, power and the ability to carry the ball through opposition defences.

According to Scholes, combining those physical attributes with quicker passing and more decisive movement would make the Arsenal midfielder extremely difficult to stop.

Another former Manchester United midfielder, Nicky Butt, also praised Rice and believes he deserves recognition among the Premier League’s finest box-to-box midfielders.

Butt compared the England international with legendary players such as Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Steven Gerrard, suggesting that he has reached an exceptional level.

He said: “I get what Scholesy says about the touches, but I think he’s phenomenal. Over the years, you look at certain midfielders who are box-to-box powerhouses: Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Steven Gerrard. He’s in that ilk now.”

Rice has established himself as one of Arsenal’s most influential players since arriving at the Emirates Stadium, with his defensive contributions, physical presence and attacking qualities making him an important part of Mikel Arteta’s midfield.

Scholes believes that if the 27-year-old improves his speed of distribution and combines it with his ability to drive forward, he could become an even more dangerous midfielder and a nightmare for opposition defences.