Arsenal centre-back William Saliba has now opened up about his favourite thing about Declan Rice.
Both Declan Rice and William Saliba have rapidly become fan favourites at the Emirates Stadium, and integral members of Mikel Arteta’s regular Arsenal starting XI.
Despite being signed for £27 million in the summer of 2019, Saliba did not make his debut for the north London club until the start of last season, having first had loan spells with Saint-Etienne, Marseille, and Nice.
Since coming into the side, Saliba has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, and is one of the most exciting defensive prospects in the game.
Rice, on the other hand, was already a proven Premier League star by the time Arsenal parted with a club-record fee of £105 million to secure his services from West Ham United in the recent summer transfer window.
Declan Rice wows William Saliba
Just as Saliba was last time out, Rice has been a revelation for Arsenal so far this season. The 24-year-old is a dominant force in the middle of the park, capable of protecting the back four, dragging his team up the pitch with driving runs, and making an impact in the final third. Arteta has even tipped Rice as a potential future Arsenal captain.
Saliba has now named one quality that makes the 46-cap England international so special. Speaking to Premier League Productions, the defender said, “the best thing about Declan Rice is his courage.”
Rice shows his courage in the way he plays. He is unafraid to take responsibility, to receive possession under pressure, or put his body on the line. He also has the mental strength to cope with his own price tag. Arsenal paid an astronomical sum to bring him to the club, which generates an extra layer of pressure on him. So far, Rice has shown no signs of wilting in the spotlight.
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