David Raya recently revealed that he had been urging Declan Rice to take aim at goal more often, as Mikel Arteta's decision to change the midfielder's position paid off throughout the season.
Arsenal have finished in second place in the Premier League for the third season in a row, highlighting the consistency in performances over the last few campaigns under Arteta.
Despite a stinging defeat against PSG in the Champions League semi-finals and an exit to Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup, the Gunners have seen a boost in performances across the board in the latest campaign.
In addition to this consistent effort in the league, fans have spotted the more active attacking role that midfielder Rice has taken throughout the season. In 52 appearances throughout Arsenal's campaign, Rice has scored nine goals and assisted 10 times.
In his most recent goal-scoring game, a 1-0 win over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium that secured second place and Champions League football next season, teammate Raya was quick to praise Rice's prowess in front of goal.
Declan Rice, David Raya, Goalkeeper of Arsenal and Thomas Partey of Arsenal look dejected during the Carabao Cup Semi Final.
David Raya has urged Declan Rice to 'shoot more' when in front of goal (Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Post-match, Raya said: "I always tell him he needs to shoot more. I tell him he has a great strike, and he has proved it every time he scores from that distance. Both against Real Madrid and this goal are copies of the goal he scored against Manchester United.
"I've always told him he needs to shoot more because he has an incredible strike. We need to use the weapon he has in his right foot."
The goalkeeper, who secured back-to-back Golden Glove awards for keeping the most clean sheets over the season, has a clear belief in Rice's striking options. And it is fair to say that their manager Arteta has seen the potential for success when it comes to pushing Rice further forward to score goals.
Declan Rice.
Declan Rice scored two stunning free-kicks against Real Madrid this season (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
These goal contributions, including two stunning free-kicks against reigning champions Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, have added another dimension to Rice's game, as he moved to a more central role over the season.
Out of his 52 games for Arsenal, Rice played 15 of these as a defensive midfielder, scoring once and assisting twice. In comparison, the 26-year-old scored eight goals and assisted eight times from 37 appearances as a central midfielder during the 2024/25 campaign, showcasing his eye for goal and accuracy from a middle-man role.
Speaking in April after Arsenal's stunning 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid, Arteta was quick to praise Rice's all-round game. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "I think tonight he was immense. I think he turned the game around.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with Declan Rice.
Mikel Arteta has entrusted Declan Rice with a more forward-attacking role this season - and it sure paid off (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
"The moment the game was 50/50, he got the ball and he turned the game. I think he was immense today. He made a difference in the tie."
Arteta's plan to push Rice for more goals has clearly worked a treat, as Raya also praised his manager's directness towards the team in order to aim them towards more success in all competitions.
The 29-year-old added: "The coach is very important for us; he tells us things as they are. When he needs to put a bit of pressure on us or when we need to do more, he tells us.
"And when he says what we need to do, he says it as it should be said, and we all agree. Arteta is very important for us."
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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