‘Unbelievable’… Paul Merson insists Arsenal are on ‘another level’ for one reason

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes that Mikel Arteta’s side have taken a huge stride forward this season for one key reason.

Declan Rice has had a huge impact since his arrival at Arsenal.

The Gunners shelled out a club-record £105 million fee to sign the midfielder from West Ham United in the recent summer transfer window. Arsenal fans are now convinced that Rice was worth every penny.

He has been a revelation at the Emirates Stadium, rapidly establishing himself as a key figure in the middle of the park for Mikel Arteta’s side. Rice has also developed his game since joining the north London outfit. He has added another attacking dimension to his game, and has proven that he is capable of posing a real threat in the final third. Arteta has long been encouraging Rice to play higher up the pitch, and the England star has now proven that he really can do it all.

It is crucial that Rice is able to stay fit for the rest of the season. Whilst Jorginho and Thomas Partey do offer alternative options to the former West Ham man, it would be a devastating blow to lose him for any significant length of time, especially at this stage in the title race.

Paul Merson heaps praise on Arsenal star Declan Rice

Paul Merson believes that Rice’s importance to the Gunners can scarcely be overestimated. Writing for Sky Sports, he stated, “they are so different to last season because Declan Rice has taken them to another level. He’s up there with Rodri and that’s why Man City and Arsenal have great defences. They are so disciplined it’s unbelievable.”

The Arsenal defence has been in a league of its own in recent weeks. Rice has played a huge role in this impressive solidity. With his running power and physicality, he is able to cover a huge area of the pitch and effectively shield the back four behind him. The 48-cap England international is an expert at spotting emerging danger and breaking up opposition attacks before they threaten to get too close to the Arsenal goal.

The comparison Merson has drawn between Rice and Rodri demonstrates just how high a regard the Arsenal man is held in. The Manchester City star is undoubtedly one of, if not the, finest holding midfield players in world football. That is a crown that Rice will be seeking to claim as his own in the coming years. He has already made excellent progress in that regard this season, and there is likely more to come from the 25-year-old.