Mikel Arteta Praises Declan Rice as Elite Midfielder Following Arsenal’s Victory

omidbasir- Mikel Arteta has lauded Declan Rice as one of the premier midfielders in the world following his standout performance in Arsenal’s 3-2 victory against Bournemouth.

In the match, Rice showcased his talent with a remarkable brace in the second half, which turned the tide in favor of the Gunners after Evanilson had initially put Bournemouth ahead in the 10th minute due to a mistake by Gabriel Magalhães. Gabriel, however, redeemed himself by scoring the equalizer just six minutes later.

The game was further intensified by Junior Kroupi’s long-range strike in the 76th minute, setting up a nail-biting finish. Nevertheless, Arsenal managed to secure the win, moving six points clear at the top of the Premier League standings.

Rice, who joined Arsenal from West Ham in 2023 for a club-record fee of £105 million ($141.4 million), has adapted his playing style to take on a more offensive role, transitioning from a traditional defensive midfielder.

When asked about Rice’s development into one of the finest midfielders in the game, Arteta responded affirmatively, stating, “For me, the players we have are the best, and Declan is consistently enhancing his skill set and his contributions to the team. I believe he has much more potential for improvement and is eager to grow. He is a crucial player for us.”

Arteta also mentioned Gabriel’s resilience following his early mistake, which led to the opponent’s goal. He praised Gabriel’s ability to recover and energize the team, stating, “The way he reacted after conceding the goal and how he played thereafter was remarkable. Declan also showed tremendous character.”

“Every minute was vital for Declan to be fit enough to play today. We were uncertain about his availability, yet he competed fiercely, played the full 90 minutes, and scored two crucial goals. His performance was outstanding and sends a strong message to the team,” Arteta added.