Journalist James McNicholas has now waxed lyrical about Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.
Declan Rice was once again magnificent as Arsenal thumped West Ham United 6-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Returning to the London Stadium for the first time in a Premier League match since his summer departure from West Ham United, Rice will have been determined to make a mark against his former club. The 25-year-old certainly did that.
Rice was lauded by Arsenal fans after the match for his headline-grabbing display. The midfielder contributed two assists, as William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes both capitalised upon his inch-perfect set-piece deliveries.
In the second half, the 48-cap England international then set the seal on his own display and rounded-off the scoring for the match with a spectacular first time strike into the top corner from range.
In terms of narrative, it could not have been more perfect for Rice, as he returned to his former stomping ground, and amid the jeers and boos that came his way from many West Ham supporters, he turned in the kind of display that went a long way towards condemning them to a humiliating defeat. TV presenter Richard Keys also commended Rice for having the “class” not to celebrate his goal in front of the Hammers’ home fans.
Can Declan Rice take Arsenal to new heights in the Champions League?
James McNicholas has been wowed by Rice’s ability to make a dramatic impact in the big moments this season. Speaking on the Arsecast Extra podcast, he said, “Rice is just a very special player…I do think there is a kind of psychological X-factor, as well. I think he is a leader and a winner, and I know that those things may feel like, kind of, soft factors and they’re difficult to define, but you do see it in football from time to time, these very special characters who can propel their teams to great feats. He has done that at West Ham, he won a European trophy with a not particularly good West Ham team, and I believe he’s capable of doing it at Arsenal as well. I think he’s a really, really special player…He has Roy of the Rovers DNA, basically…there is this weird, comic book capability for the extraordinary.”
Rice has proven that he has the capacity to step up and make a telling contribution when it really counts. Already this season he has scored late winners against Manchester United and Luton Town. Against Chelsea he provided the goal that sparked the Gunners’ comeback. Now, against West Ham, he has produced yet another blockbuster moment.
In his time as a player at West Ham, Rice wore the captain’s armband and was so often the hero of the hour for the club. He played a starring role in the Irons’ historic run to Europa Conference League glory in his final campaign at the London Stadium.
Now he is at Arsenal, he is competing at Champions League level, and he will be determined to have a similar impact. Certainly, if Rice can inspire Mikel Arteta‘s side to a Champions League triumph, then there will be no doubts that he was worth every penny of the club-record £105 million fee that was shelled out to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.
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