Legendary former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry is concerned that Declan Rice has had to come to the club’s rescue so often this season.
Declan Rice has been a revelation for Arsenal so far this season. The Gunners paid a club-record £105 million fee to sign the 24-year-old from West Ham United in the recent summer transfer window, and fans of the north London club believe that he is already living up to his price tag.
Rice has consistently been a dominant presence in the middle of the park for Arsenal. With his power and athleticism he is able to get around the pitch and provide cover wherever it is needed, and is a master at breaking up opposition counter-attacks.
On the ball, the England man drags his team up the pitch with driving runs and is also capable of playing penetrative passes between the lines. Rice has also shown that he has an eye for goal. He has netted three times for Mikel Arteta’s side, and each strike has been of vital importance.
His first goal in red and white was a last gasp winner against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium. His second came against Chelsea, with the Gunners trailing at the time. Rice’s strike sparked an Arsenal comeback.
Most recently, with the very last touch of the match, Rice provided yet another winner, as he headed in against Luton Town, to send the travelling Arsenal fans into raptures at Kenilworth Road.
Rice is also a natural leader. Arteta has already tipped him to be a future captain of the club. So far, he looks to have been worth every penny Arsenal paid to bring him to north London.
Arsenal must become less reliant on Declan Rice heroics
However, Thierry Henry has now sent a warning to Arteta about Rice. Speaking on CBS Sports (13/12/2023, 19:40) the former striker said, “Declan Rice saves us a couple of times. It’s not going to happen all the time.”
Arsenal have been the late goal specialists in 2023, to a record-breaking extent. They are also good at pulling off comebacks. However, they need to get better at killing off matches when they are ahead, and need to become more efficient in front of goal generally.
Henry is right to point out that being so reliant on late goals is not sustainable and that the Rice won’t always be able to save the day.
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