Declan Rice has credited Mikel Arteta as the man who has really elevated his game to the next level at Arsenal this season.
Arteta is now undoubtedly one of the best coaches in world football, with Arsenal sitting on the cusp of a truly historic season.
👀 True or False: Arsenal are so much better when Martin Zubimendi is BENCHED and Declan Rice starts in the six…
The Gunners are sitting top of the Premier League table and in the Champions League final, with a shot at the greatest season in the club’s history.
At the heart of their success this season has been Rice, and the midfielder says that he would not be where he is today without the manager’s guidance.
Declan Rice claims Mikel Arteta has made him a well-rounded midfielder
Declan Rice claims that Mikel Arteta has helped transform him into a much more well-rounded midfielder at the Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal vice-captain has been speaking about the Spanish coach and has spoken about the level of detail which he has provided him.
Having now worked under him for almost three years, Rice believes his understanding of the game has gone to the next level.
Speaking to HBO Max, Rice said: “I think the manager has turned me into a more well-rounded midfielder.
“A midfielder who can do anything he asks me to do to a level where I have real clarity of what I need to do in terms of with the ball and without the ball, I have a real understanding of what I need to do in the game.”
Should Arsenal consider dropping Declan Rice vs West Ham?
Could this game be too emotional for him?
Rice has been so good this season that he is now one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or if Arsenal go on to win at least one of the two major trophies.
He is also one of the few £100 million-plus players to prove he is worth the price tag, and this is all largely down to the help of Arteta.
Declan Rice was robbed of the FWA Player of the Year award by Bruno Fernandes
Over the weekend, Rice was robbed of the FWA Player of the Year award by Bruno Fernandes, who was voted to win following his season at Manchester United.
Fernandes looks set to break Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s assist record this season; however, there is no way he has been as good as Rice.
The former West Ham United star has been such a key player for the Premier League leaders this term, and it’s a travesty he did not win the award.
It will be interesting to see who wins the PFA and Premier League Player of the Year awards, with Rice deserving at least one of them.
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