Arsenal’s Declan Rice worry will not go away despite Gary Lineker’s bold England claim

Ryan Taylor argues that Declan Rice remains indispensable for England despite Gary Lineker suggesting Alex Scott could challenge his starting spot. Lineker praised Scott's composure following England's 7-0 Nations League win against Croatia, while manager Thomas Tuchel welcomed the added competition in midfield. However, Taylor writes that claims questioning Rice's status are based on recency bias after he sat out the camp for workload management.

Taylor highlights that Rice remains vital for England, ranking highly in minutes, chance creation, and ball recoveries since 2024. While Arsenal would benefit from Rice receiving more rest during international breaks, the writer concludes that Rice is simply too integral for England to be replaced, though Scott's emergence could eventually help ease his physical burden.