Paul Scholes Sparks Debate with Critical Remarks on Declan Rice

London, UK - Former Manchester United midfielder and football pundit Paul Scholes has sparked considerable debate with his recent comments regarding Arsenal's Declan Rice. In a segment widely circulated by Metro Sport, Scholes claimed that Rice "takes too many touches" and engages in "stud rolling" that "doesn't achieve anything" on the field. These remarks have ignited discussions among football enthusiasts and analysts alike. Responding to Scholes' critique, Metro Sport hosts vehemently defended Rice, citing his consistent performance over the past two seasons. One host remarked, "The guy's been Arsenal's best performer for last two seasons. It's not like he's losing the ball. Didn't he complete like 92% of his passes for the whole of last season?" They further highlighted the irony by comparing Rice's average touches per game (55) to that of Bruno Fernandes (72), a midfielder often praised by Scholes. The hosts challenged Scholes to provide evidence of his own flair, jokingly stating, "I don't want to see this long passing nonsense. I want to see actually Scholes doing a Messi dribble." The debate underscores the differing philosophies on midfield play and the evolving role of defensive midfielders in modern football.