Damage doubt Declan Rice “stretched himself to the very restrict” to play and rating twice to take Arsenal six factors clear on the prime of the Premier League, says boss Mikel Arteta.
The England midfielder, 26, missed Arsenal’s final recreation with a knee harm however was named within the line-up at Bournemouth on Saturday
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It was simply the second time in his 375 senior membership appearances that he netted greater than as soon as in a recreation, alongside final season’s exceptional free-kick double towards Actual Madrid.
“I’ve been in conditions earlier than the place I’ve scored one in a recreation, wished to attain one other and it hasn’t occurred – however now it has,” he advised the BBC.
Arteta mentioned: “Declan Rice was struggling the previous few days however pushed and pushed and pushed and made himself accessible.
“He performed 96 minutes, scored two objectives and was probably the greatest gamers on the pitch. That’s the mentality we want from all of us.”
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When requested if Rice was probably the greatest midfielders on the earth, Arteta mentioned: “For me, sure.
“Declan is consistently including issues to his recreation, and his function within the workforce, and I do not see the place he can cease as a result of he can nonetheless enhance in a whole lot of areas and he needs to enhance.”
BBC Sport appears to be like at how good Rice, the £100m signing from West Ham, has grow to be.
‘Up there with the most effective midfielders’
Rice had by no means scored two objectives in a single league recreation earlier than [Getty Images]
The Villa recreation, which Arsenal gained 4-1, was solely the fourth Premier League recreation Rice has missed since becoming a member of the membership two and a half years in the past.
When Arteta spoke to the media on Friday he mentioned Rice’s knee was nonetheless swollen and he didn’t know whether or not he would be capable to play.
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Talking after the sport, Arteta mentioned: “Till the final minute, I requested him: ‘How are you feeling?’ And he mentioned: ‘I’m in’. And he confirmed he was big-time in.”
And that paid off for the workforce and the supervisor.
Rice scored twice to take the rating from 1-1 to 3-1, after Gabriel had earlier levelled for the Gunners.
Former Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe was watching the sport for BBC Match of the Day.
“I assumed it was a masterclass,” the ex-England ahead mentioned. “Out and in of possession he was so good, even the opposite facet of the sport, the entire second balls he gained and his positioning, his pitch geography.
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“He is undoubtedly up there with the most effective midfielders in Europe. He is a key participant for Arsenal within the title race.
“I believe he can do it extra, scoring objectives, however it was such a very good efficiency.”
Extra passes into field than anybody else
Rice has continued to flourish for Arsenal in a extra attacking midfield function – having initially been a defensive midfielder for West Ham, and when first shifting to the Emirates.
This season he has performed extra passes into the field than every other Premier League participant – 146.
He ranks within the prime 10 for touches, probabilities created and instances he has gained possession.
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Rice has 4 Premier League objectives this season – solely Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard (each 5) have extra for the Gunners – whereas Belgian ahead Trossard is his solely team-mate to prime his three assists.
In the meantime, Rice is the top-ranking Arsenal participant for line-breaking passes (142) and progressive carries (188).
Arteta mentioned: “He’s extraordinarily constant on all the pieces that you simply ask him to do, and that’s what makes the distinction.
“Firstly, he has the skills and the qualities to realize that, however then you definitely want the consistency to do it, and he’s doing it each single day, and then you definitely see that type of efficiency.”
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On being advised it was the primary time he has scored twice in a league recreation, Rice advised Sky Sports activities: “That is a loopy stat.
“I have not scored loads this season, I would solely scored two, so to seize a brace as we speak in an vital victory was a very nice feeling. If you win and also you’re in a position to assist out the workforce like I did as we speak all the time provides that additional little bit of a particular feeling.”
Rice has scored 5 objectives in 12 Premier League video games towards Bournemouth, greater than double the objectives he has scored towards every other workforce within the league.
Carabao Cup silverware would ‘loosen up’ Arsenal
The victory takes Arteta’s workforce six factors away from second-placed Aston Villa, though Manchester Metropolis can shut the hole again to 4 factors once they host managerless Chelsea on Sunday.
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This was the primary of 9 Arsenal video games in January – a month through which Arteta will get good use out of his well-stocked squad.
Bukayo Saka and Trossard began on the bench at Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Gunners have 4 league video games, two within the Champions League, an FA Cup tie with Portsmouth and a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg towards Chelsea this month.
Arsenal are nonetheless in competition for all 4 trophies this season – with six wins from six within the Champions League – however the Carabao Cup could be their first probability of silverware.
Regardless of their enhancements below Arteta, usually ending second within the league, they haven’t gained a trophy because the 2019-20 FA Cup in his first season in cost.
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Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Redknapp, the previous England midfielder, mentioned: “All the things goes so nicely for Arsenal.
“It is the least vital competitors for them, but when they win the Carabao Cup, it is going to take the stress off to a sure extent.
“Do not get me flawed, they need the league title. If they’re fortunate sufficient to do the double, unbelievable. However I do suppose they only need to win a trophy.
“I believe it is going to loosen up them.”