Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has backed Declan Rice to reach ‘other levels’ as he has ‘something special’ before the midfielder’s emotional reunion with West Ham United.
The 24-year-old meets the Irons for the first time in the Premier League since he left London Stadium on Thursday. Rice left West Ham after a decade for Arsenal in a club-record transfer in July. He has since emerged as an essential cog in Arteta’s side after settling in seamlessly.
Only Rice and defender William Saliba have started all 18 of Arsenal’s Premier League games so far this season. Arteta further started the Hammers product in five of their six Champions League group stage ties. He even ranks second to Saliba (2,222) for minutes played (2,128).
Declan Rice is the £100m ‘bargain’ since leaving West Ham for Arsenal
Arteta loves everything that Rice gives Arsenal and how the 48-cap England ace has coped with his £105m price tag. The Gunners paid West Ham an initial £100m to land their captain. A fee that Ian Wright jokes he feels ‘guilty’ about as Arsenal ‘robbed’ West Ham for the deal.
Even Alan Shearer has suggested Rice is making a £100m transfer fee ‘look like a bargain’ at Arsenal. He has blown the Newcastle United icon away with ‘everything’ he has displayed at Emirates Stadium. Rice has given the complete package with his abilities on and off the ball.
Mikel Arteta backs Declan Rice to reach ‘other levels’ at the Emirates
Rice instantly emerged as a leader for Arsenal’s dressing room after arriving from West Ham this summer. He also conducts Arteta’s vision on the pitch, continually protects the defence at a sublime level, spreads the ball with ease and has also delivered a clutch of crucial goals.
The midfielder hit home their go-ahead goal to beat Manchester United, first to inspire a 2-2 draw at Chelsea and their 97th-minute winner at Luton Town. Yet Arteta has stated that Rice still has ‘much more’ to realise with Arsenal ahead of his first league reunion with West Ham.
“When they put the price tag, you have to carry that and it is not easy,” Arteta noted, via the Mirror. “He has done it in a brilliant way. He is a really humble guy. And the way that he wants to learn and take positive criticism is really powerful.
“He has other levels to go. I love his presence on the pitch. He’s there and he’s got something special. I felt it when I played against him, that’s why I was mad to sign him. You get a feeling about players and I wanted him to be part of our team.
“He is playing more as a deeper role in the last few weeks. But playing as a No8, he can be an incredible player. He can be a centre-back if he needs to step in if we need to. He has shown that he has an eye for goals when he is in the opponent’s box, he is a real threat.
“That is something that can be developed. His leadership skill, the way that he will naturally grow in the team and club in the years to come. There is much more from him.”
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