Several Arsenal stars are making their country proud on intentional duty.
Usually, this is a time supporters absolutely hate and simply want the powers that be to scrap because it gets in the way of the new season.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta had started the new Premier League campaign in a mixed fashion because they won their opening two matches.
But then, Arsenal proceeded to drop points against Brighton in controversial circumstances, with Declan Rice getting sent off and now he will miss the north London derby.
Rice is expected to return for Arsenal’s opening Champions League game – away at Europa League winners, Atalanta.
In the meantime, going on England duty, allows him to get some much-needed minutes under his belt and build on his sharpness ahead of those important games.
But, for Rice, it doesn’t get more eventful than playing for England against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
The 25-year-old became public enemy number one in Ireland when he played for the country three times – in friendly matches – before opting to represent the country of his birth.
So, it wasn’t a surprise he received a hostile reception when England faced the Irish in a UEFA Nations League match on Saturday.
But to add salt to the Irish wounds, Rice opened the scoring and then assisted public enemy number two, Jack Grealish for the second.
Rice didn’t celebrate when he scored and he posted a wordless post on Instagram after the game, with his teammates, including Riccardo Calafiori and Aaron Ramsdale reacting in the comments section.
Declan Rice scores for England against the Republic of Ireland
Italy international Calafiori applauded Rice, whilst Ramsdale, who was sat on the bench for England, labelled his ex-club teammate as ‘cold’.
New chapter for Declan Rice under Lee Carsley
Gareth Southgate has left his role as England boss and Lee Carsley, who won the European Championships with the U21s, is now in interim charge.
When Rice was at West Ham United, he was used to playing defensive football, before Arteta transformed his game and pushed him further forward in an attacking system.
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At the international level, it felt that Rice was being restricted in Southgate’s system, but Carsley is far more attacking and this is probably the change he and his teammates need.
And if Carsley doesn’t get the job full-time, then there is every chance Eddie Howe becomes England manager – another attacking coach, who can help elevate Rice’s game.
The post ‘Cold’: Riccardo Calafiori & Aaron Ramsdale applaud Arsenal star's performance on national duty appeared first on HITC.
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