Declan Rice has been accused of “performative scanning” by rival supporters this season, but new data suggests the Arsenal star has far more game intelligence than some give him credit for.

Social media users have been quick to criticise the England international’s habit of looking around before receiving the ball. Some have mocked the midfielder for seemingly exaggerating his awareness to appear more intelligent than he actually is.

Rice has been accused of scanning the pitch to assess his passing options before ultimately playing a safe pass, leading some fans to suggest the behaviour is merely performative. The 27-year-old has become a regular target in the internet age of football fandom, but research suggests his scanning is more purposeful than his critics might think.

The truth behind Declan Rice’s ‘performative scanning’

The term “performative scanning” refers to the idea that a player looks around before receiving a pass without using the information gathered to influence their next action.

However, research from football technology experts Be Your Best suggests Rice does use what he learns from scanning to inform his decisions when he receives the ball.

According to Be Your Best, the main takeaway from Rice’s last three Premier League appearances for Arsenal is that his scanning appears deliberate and calculated. The midfielder consistently gathers information before receiving the ball and uses it to influence his next action.

In Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Sunderland, Rice made 542 scans across 53 receiving situations. His scan rate of 0.55 was above the Premier League average of 0.53 for central midfielders, while 61.5% of his scans were classified as critical.

His passing also reflected that awareness. Rice completed 32 of his 33 forward passes, giving him a 97% success rate, while 62.3% of his total passes were played forward.

A similar pattern emerged in Arsenal’s shock 3-0 defeat to Brighton. Rice recorded a scan rate of 0.52, just below the 0.53 average for central midfielders, with 68.4% of his scans classified as critical.

His passing was less effective in that match, however, as he completed 71% of his forward passes. Meanwhile, 55% of his total passes were directed forward.

Rice showed further improvement in Arsenal’s weekend victory over Nottingham Forest. He recorded a scan rate of 0.55, with 64.8% of his scans deemed critical. He also directed 59% of his passes forward and registered an overall passing success rate of 86.8%.

What the data tells us about Declan Rice

The data from those three matches suggests Rice’s scanning frequency is remarkably consistent, supporting the argument that it is a natural part of his game rather than a performative habit. His critical scan rate, which ranged from 61.5% to 68.4%, also suggests that much of his scanning serves a purpose.

Although the Arsenal star possesses considerable natural talent, scanning and decision-making are also skills that can be developed through training.

Be Your Best offers a virtual reality experience using the Meta Quest headset, allowing players to practise realistic match scenarios and improve their decision-making. Arsenal teammate Martin Ødegaard has used the service, alongside Real Madrid stars Endrick and Aurélien Tchouaméni.

“What Declan Rice’s scanning stats show is that his scanning is purposeful. He isn’t simply turning his head — he’s gathering information at useful moments and then acting on it,” Be Your Best CEO Andreas Olsen said.

“Rice’s numbers against Sunderland are a great example. He was constantly gathering information, but the important thing is what he did with it. Completing 32 of 33 forward passes shows how effectively his awareness translated into his actions on the ball.”