Bukayo Saka has hailed Declan Rice as a “great leader” and praised the midfielder’s growing influence inside the Arsenal dressing room.
Part of a five-man leadership group voted for by the first-team squad before the season, Rice supports club captain Martin Odegaard alongside Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Mikel Merino.
The 26-year-old, who captained West Ham and has worn the armband for England, is the only member of Mikel Arteta’s lieutenants not to have led the team out this season. Even so, his all-action performances have consistently set the tone – something Saka, who has spent time this season on the sidelines, clearly values.
“He’s not just a great player, he’s a great leader,” Saka told talkSPORT while on international duty.
“Obviously, he was captain at West Ham and even around Arsenal he’s a big leader.
“He’s a guy that takes a lot of responsibility in the changing room and gets the boys going so credit to him for that and he’s doing that here (England) now.
“He’s in really good form, in a really good moment and I’m happy to be his teammate.”
Rice has featured in all 17 of Arsenal’s matches this season, starting 14, registering five assists and two goals along the way.
Asked what qualities Rice brings to both club and country, Saka continued:
“His body language, he speaks, communicates, he knows what to say at the right moment.
“But I think to have that backed up with his presence on the pitch — he plays every game, he’s always available. So all of that speaks for itself.”
All of which will be music to the ears of Tony Adams, who, on the eve of the campaign, suggested Mikel Arteta should hand Rice the captaincy.
Few agreed with that idea – it would hardly have been a confidence boost for Odegaard – but given Rice’s growing influence, you wouldn’t completely rule it out in the future.