Santi Cazorla has made a surprising claim about Declan Rice.
The Arsenal and England man has become one of the best midfielders in the world since his £105 million move from West Ham, and now has a Premier League winner’s medal to show for it.
Rice will be hugely disappointed he couldn’t add a Champions League medal to that, but he is adamant the Gunners will be back on Europe’s biggest stage.
Former fan favourite Santi Cazorla has been singing the praises for Rice, but perhaps not for the trait you would expect.
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Speaking to Front Three, the former Arsenal fan favourite was tasked with building his perfect midfielder, selecting players for a list of attributes.
In a pick that might raise a few eyebrows, Cazorla picked Rice for pace.
“Declan Rice for pace? You think he’s fast?” the interviewer asked, clearly taken aback.
Cazorla was unbothered. “You don’t think he’s fast, but he’s fast for sure,” he replied.
Santi Cazorla says Declan Rice is quicker than you think
Pace isn’t the quality most people would immediately associate with Declan Rice.
He’s generally more thought about for his physical dominance, his reading of the game, his leadership and his ability to cover ground enduringly.
But Cazorla makes a good point. Rice is deceptively rapid.
Watch him gallop on the counter or when chasing opponents back, and it becomes clearer.
Rice can cover the length of the pitch in seconds when he needs to, and his athleticism is a significant part of what makes him so effective as a box-to-box midfielder.
Cazorla knows a thing or two about elite midfielders, having played alongside some of the best in the world during his career.
If he is picking Rice for pace, it is worth taking seriously, even if it does take a moment to get your head around.
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