Former Liverpool man has noticed one key change with Declan Rice at Arsenal recently

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Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has now identified one change he has seen in Declan Rice at Arsenal this season.

Declan Rice has been a revelation at Arsenal this season. 

The midfielder rapidly established himself as a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s side following his arrival from West Ham United in the recent summer transfer window. 

The 25-year-old brings power and steel to the middle of the park for the Gunners. With his remarkable stamina and athleticism, Rice is able to cover vast swathes of the pitch, covering the back four, and breaking up opposition attacks. He developed his reputation as an elite-level defensive midfielder in his time at West Ham, but since his switch to north London he has shown that he is capable of providing far more than that. 

Arteta has been urging Rice to take up a more advanced role for some time. This season, the England star has has shown that he can provide a real presence in the final third. He got on the scoresheet yet again against Brentford last time out, as he nodded home Ben White’s cross in the first half to put the Gunners ahead. 

Rice has had the most successful season of his career so far in front of goal this season. He has already racked up six goals and seven assists. 

He has also impressed off the pitch, and is clearly a natural leader. Arteta has already stated that he expects Rice to captain Arsenal at some stage in the future. 

How Declan Rice has taken his game to a new level at Arsenal

Stephen Warnock believes that Rice has taken great strides forward as a player this season. Speaking on the The 2 Robbies podcast, the former full-back stated, “the one thing I’d say about Declan Rice is, you think back to his West Ham days, and he’d be a holding midfielder. But, he almost knew he had to be a holding midfielder and an attacking midfielder, and a leader, and he was doing so many jobs in the game…I watch him now, and because he knows he’s got other players around him to do certain jobs, I’m watching him in the 98th minute and he’s cruising. What an asset that is for Arsenal, late on in games.”

Rice is certainly surrounded by higher calibre players than he was in his time at West Ham. His ability to now play higher up the pitch, for instance, has been facilitated by the presence and form of Jorginho. The Italian veteran is able to screen the defence and recycle possession effectively from deep, giving Rice the freedom to push up into the final third.

Rice is clearly enjoying his football at Arsenal, and has played a huge role in the club’s success this season. The Gunners are currently sat at the top of the Premier League table and will be aiming to end the club’s 20-year title drought this season.