Mikel Arteta was impressed with Declan Rice on Saturday evening.placeholder image
Mikel Arteta was impressed with Declan Rice on Saturday evening. | Getty Images
Mikel Arteta heaped praise on one midfielder in particular after Arsenal came back from 1-0 down to beat AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.
Arsenal were powered to a 3-2 victory over a tricky AFC Bournemouth side by a determined Declan Rice at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, with the England international scoring his first brace in the Premier League.
While that remains a respectable return for a midfielder who spends a lot of time doing defensive work, it’s not quite the same output managed by some Premier League greats in that position - Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes.
Declan Rice tipped to become the next Yaya Toure
Given that Rice already brings so much to Arsenal, it’s somewhat hard to imagine a world where he gives even more. However, after the scintillating performance against AFC Bournemouth, perhaps the midfielder still has levels to climb at the Emirates Stadium.
Analysing the player on Match of the Day, Jermaine Defoe compared Rice to Manchester City legend Yaya Toure. The Ivory Coast international netted 80 times in his 316 appearances for Manchester City, including a tally of 20 goals during the 2013/14 campaign.
Defoe said: “What a performance. When you look at the modern day midfielder, he does everything. His energy levels get you up the pitch.
“I remember Declan speaking to me a few years back and Declan saying that he’s modelled his game on Yaya Toure. It was Yaya Toure like today, getting them up the pitch. He always knows what’s around him, comes away from the pressure and has a change of speed.”
Mikel Arteta: Rice is ‘constantly adding to his game’
Defoe went on to add: “He said that. He watched Yaya Toure’s game and the way he’d get teams up the pitch and drive through the midfield. The only thing now is adding a few more goals to his game. When he arrives on the edge of the box he makes good contact, he’s a good finisher.”
After the game, Arteta was asked whether Rice could be considered one of the best midfielders in the world and acknowledged that his constant development was an asset for him.
The Arsenal manager said: “For me yes. For me, the ones that we have are the best. Declan is constantly adding things to his game. He's constantly adding things to his role in the team. I don't see where he can stop because he can still improve in a lot of areas and he wants to improve. He's such a pivotal player for us.”
In other news, Arsenal make £52m offer to sign Real Madrid star who has been offered huge salary by Saudi Pro League.
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