Paul Scholes makes controversial Declan Rice comment as Arsenal urged to 'get rid' of midfielder

Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes has suggested Arsenal should sell a first-team player this summer rather than allowing Myles Lewis-Skelly to leave the club while making a controversial comment about Declan Rice.

Arsenal have already welcomed four players this summer, with Bruno Guimaraes completing a £75million move from Newcastle United, while Piero Hincapie’s loan deal was made permanent after the Ecuadorian impressed during his first campaign in the Premier League last season.

Mikel Arteta has also welcomed Greek winger Christos Tzolis from Belgium’s Club Brugge, with the 24-year-old showing promise in pre-season, while former Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier has arrived and will provide backup to David Raya.

Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior, Christian Norgaard and Karl Hein have departed, with Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri linked with moves to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Academy product Lewis-Skelly has been the subject of interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, but Scholes believes selling the 19-year-old would be the wrong move, with the 11-time Premier League winner explaining how he thinks the Gunners should get rid of Martin Zubimendi instead, as the Spaniard continues to be linked with Chelsea.

Speaking on the Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet, Scholes said: “I prefer Myles Lewis-Skelly in centre midfield to Zubimendi - I think Zubimendi struggled last year. If there’s one player you are going to get rid of, it would be him [Martin Zubimendi]. The problem I’ve got with this left back role is that [Mikel] Arteta last year basically played four centre-halves last season.”

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Paul Scholes unsure of Bruno Guimarães and Declan Rice partnership

Scholes also voiced his reservations about Guimaraes and Rice playing together, explaining how the Brazilian’s previous partners Sandro Tonali and Joelinton brought the best out in him at Newcastle.

He added: “I’m struggling to see where the fit is with Bruno Guimarães and Declan Rice next to him. He needs legs around him. What he had at Newcastle was perfect for him, when you think of Joelinton, you think of [Sandro] Tonali.

“I spoke about Tonali around January time and that I would love him to come to Manchester United over Guimarães because of his athleticism and how he can get round the pitch a lot better now. Bruno needs that around him and he will have Declan Rice around him, but he played in a [midfield] three at Newcastle.

“I love Newcastle’s midfield. I think them three [Joelinton, Guimarães & Tonali], you’ve got to pick them up and you could put them in any midfield in the Premier League or Europe; I thought they were that good. Is Declan Rice right for him [Bruno Guimarães]? I don’t know.”

The 51-year-old also made clear that he thinks Guimarães could help Arsenal play an entertaining brand of football while stating that Rice struggles to have a similar impact.

“Guimarães will progress the game more than Martin Zubimendi or Declan Rice,” Scholes continued. “He will be the one looking forward, playing through the lines. He should score up to ten goals really for Arsenal. I think Arsenal really missed that this year. I don’t think Declan Rice makes your team play good football. I don’t think Zubimendi does. They are pivots and they’re good at that. But I think Bruno Guimarães will make you better on the ball.”

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher shared a similar view on Guimarães, adding: “He is a good player, so I’m interested to see how he does. I know as fans we always have an opinion on players but everyone around you tells you players are better than what you see and you think to yourself, it must be me, because everyone else is saying how good Guimarães is. He is a good player. But I still want to see a little bit more. I worry about his energy around the pitch.”

Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16 before getting their Premier League campaign under way at home against Coventry on August 21.