Mikel Arteta has revealed that he told Declan Rice at the start of the season that he is no longer the Arsenal team's 'lighthouse'. Speaking after the 2-1 win over Leeds, in which Rice set up Bruno Guimaraes' winner, Arteta said: "You are not the lighthouse anymore. You are something else." He added: "At the end of the season, I can tell you what [and] where I want to take him. But he's not the lighthouse anymore, he's something else and he needs to prove that on the pitch."
The 'lighthouse' tag followed Rice since he joined Arsenal in 2023. Arteta used the term last season to describe his focal point, clarity and direction for the team. Pep Guardiola first used it for Rodri at Manchester City, telling him to stay still and let everything revolve around him. That describes a traditional defensive midfielder focused on off-the-ball influence, but Rice's role has changed.
The clearest sign of his development is his passing in open play. In six league games this season, Rice has three assists from open play, more than he managed in the whole of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign. Two of them set up Guimaraes goals against Sunderland and Leeds from outside the box, while the third put Kai Havertz through to equalise against Chelsea.
The data supports the change. Rice's final-third entries have risen by 25 per cent compared with last season, and have doubled since the 2024/25 campaign. He is now playing a far more active attacking role, and Arteta wants him to prove it on the pitch.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing