Rice scored twice against the Cherriesplaceholder image
Rice scored twice against the Cherries | AFP via Getty Images
Declan Rice spoke after Arsenal’s big win over AFC Bournemouth that saw him score twice.
Arsenal match-winner Declan Rice was impressed by one of his teammates in Saturday evening’s 3-2 away win over AFC Bournemouth. The Gunners came from behind to pull off the win after a big Gabriel Magalhaes error that he quickly atoned for with a goal of his own.
Rice then scored twice before Bournemouth pulled one back with a stunner with just under 15 months. The win means Arsenal have reached the end of the festive period and extended their lead over Manchester City along the way, and the win also means that the lead cannot be reduced below four points this weekend, with City not playing until Sunday, against Chelsea.
It felt like a significant win for the Gunners, and after the game, Rice had some special praise for teammate Martin Odegaard, who provided the assist for his second goal. The midfielder told Arsenal club media: “He's so intelligent. I mean, the way he feeds passes for you, the second one, the way he played it through to Bukayo - there aren't many players in the world who can play those passes.
“He heard me - he was going to shoot but he set me back and I was so happy, because the more he assists for us, our teammates, and the more he scores, the more he's firing, it's going to help us do good things.”
Gyokeres defence
Rice also had some words of encouragement for Viktor Gyokeres, who has been working hard but without the goal return reward many expected from him when he joined Arsenal on a big-money deal in the summer.
“It's tough for him, because he's got two defenders on him all game, all over him,” Rice added. “So he has to use his strength, he has to do all he can to help the team and with that goal, without him making that run from Gabi's flick and holding it, setting it off to Martin, that goal wouldn't happen.
“That was a pivotal moment in the game for us to turn the game on its head. I see how hard he hits a ball, and when that space arrives for him and the ball's arriving at his feet to score goals, he will 100 percent score. But at the minute, defenders in the Premier League want to be able to stop Viktor Gyokeres, because he's one of the best strikers in the world. Trust me, he's doing unbelievably for us, we wouldn't be where we are without him.”
Gyokeres now has to fight for his place in the Arsenal line-up, with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz now both fit again and ready to compete, but it does seem as though the Sweden international will be the first choice frontman.
Arsenal are next in action on Thursday when they face Liverpool in what will be an intriguing clash at the Emirates Stadium.
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