Arsenal summer signing Declan Rice has been sensational since his arrival from West Ham, and he delivered another fine display last night, this time for England.
The 24-year-old is one of the first names on the teamsheet for Gareth Southgate, and he delivered an excellent performance as England came from behind to beat Italy at Wembley.
Whilst Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham was the star of the show going forward, Rice’s work in the middle of the park did not go unnoticed, and he has now earned rave reviews following the victory, which saw England secure their place in the Euros next summer.
Rice earns plaudits for England display
Although the midfielder was slightly involved as Italy took the lead through his former teammate Gianluca Scamacca, the rest of his performance made up for his mistake, as he left the striker unmarked in the box to finish.
He was given a 7/10 rating by Sky Sports, who highlighted his excellent work at helping control the tempo of the match.
“Neat performance in the middle of the park as he snuffed out danger and dictated play from the base of midfield. Rarely put a foot wrong,” Sky stated in their player ratings.
The Standard also gave him a 7/10 rating, highlighting some good work he did in the first half to progress the ball to the attackers.
“Absolutely ubiquitous in the first half, nicking the ball and looking to free Phil Foden down the right. Solid in the second.”
Rice’s consistency
It is quite remarkable just how good Rice is on a weekly basis, with his level of performance yet to drop below a 7/10 in any game this season for club or country.
Rice’s immediate impact on the Arsenal team has seen Mikel Arteta’s side go unbeaten in the League so far, and he particularly shone in the win over Manchester City before the International break.
Arsenal broke the bank to bring him in, but his price tag is hardly ever mentioned now as he has justified the expense with his excellent performances, and the best could be yet to come, with some suggesting that he can offer even more if played in a more attacking role.
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