Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice believes criticism of his goalscoring record in the past by the likes of Roy Keane and Graeme Souness was unfair given their own style of play

Declan Rice has hit back at the figures who have criticised him for not scoring often enough.

During his time at West Ham, the England international saw his lack of goals used to detract from his qualities. The likes of Roy Keane, Graeme Souness and Jamie Redknapp pointed towards that area of Rice's game.

Last season, former Manchester United captain Keane suggested Rice had to do more to be among the top players in an assessment that declared 'he doesn’t score enough goals and he doesn’t get enough assists’.

The midfielder has since joined Arsenal in a £105million deal and provided six goals and eight assists in his 35 appearances in the Premier League. Those numbers already outshine what he produced for the Irons last term, but Rice believes the criticism was unfair.

"No, not really," Rice said speaking to The Athletic. "Because Roy Keane, (Graeme) Souness, (Jamie) Redknapp, people that talk about my goalscoring ability, if you looked at their goals, they didn’t score hundreds in their career.

"But they’re remembered for what they did as midfield players: Roy Keane breaking up play, being a hard-tackling midfielder, won loads of titles for United.

"The same with Souness. So I don’t know why when it comes to me it’s all about goals, because it’s never been my game. Since I’ve been scoring, no one has said anything!"

Rice has previously poked fun at Keane's assessment, and joked with the Sky Sports pundit after scoring against United earlier this season. In as post-match chat, the 25-year-old jibed: "What do you reckon Roy?"

Keane replied: "Own goal." The ball appeared to take a slight deflection after Rice's strike.

On that occasion the match-winner did accept that he had become more ruthless in front of goal. Rice added: "The old me would've set that back for a cross not going to lie.

"When I was a youngster, I would've played that back to (Fabio) Vieira. But last minute of the game, fine margins and if you don't shoot you don't score."