Interview
[Jonathon Rogers](/author/jonathon-rogers) 04 Dec 2024
Declan Rice believes he has the same confidence as a goalscorer on a hot streak when it comes to his corner-taking right now, after grabbing another assist against Manchester United.
His devilish delivery for Jurrien Timber to glance home his first Gunners goal proved to be the key moment in our 2-0 success against the Red Devils, which was one of several crosses our midfield fed into the area that caused the visitors problems.
And with four assists to his name already this term, Declan admits that at this moment, every time he sends a corner into the box, he is confident it will hit its intended target and give us a great chance of grabbing a goal.
Reflecting on his deliveries, he said: “There were a couple tonight that were really good. I think that every time I was going to take the corner, I knew it was going to be a good ball. In my head I was just thinking about putting it in the same spot and in the end with repetition, you end up scoring goals.
“This year has been my biggest output in terms of goals and assists throughout the year, so I’m really happy with that. It’s been a slow start to the season for me personally, I think off the back of a long Euros it’s taken a while for me to get going, but I think the last few weeks I’ve been feeling much better and back to my best.
“Tonight, I just had a different energy. I just wanted to do anything for the team to win and in the second half, I would have done anything tonight to get the three points. I’m buzzing.”
Later in the game we netted our 22nd goal from corners since the start of last season when William Saliba doubled our advantage. In that time, the two players with the most Premier League assists from set plays are Declan and Bukayo Saka, who both have seven.
It was Bukayo’s corner that led to our second goal, albeit the assist went to Thomas Partey as he nodded it back into a congested box for Saliba to score. That means Bukayo remains on 10 Premier League assists this term as he hunts down the record of 20, which Declan admits he’d love his teammate to achieve.
“He’d have been fuming!” Declan laughed when he learnt that he moved one closer to his teammate as his corner didn’t directly lead to the goal. “That would have been another one closer to the record. I want him to get that, that’d be massive for him. There’s no competition – as long as we keep putting good balls in and our big centre-halves keep scoring, there’s not a problem.”
Declan’s assist was for Timber who grabbed his first goal for the club by nodding in at the near post to finally get on the scoresheet. That would have been a huge moment for a player who sat out an entire season last term, but has shown his qualities after battling back, and Declan is delighted for the Dutch defender.
“When you come back from a knee injury that long, it takes you a while to get going but the level he’s played at is just ridiculous,” he added. “I see him every day and the commitment and the drive that he has to be better, he’s such a good guy. To perform how he does; he’s loved by the fans, he’s loved by the players, so to score that goal, I’m so happy for him.”
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