Mikel Arteta: Declan Rice Bossed The Midfield

Mikel Arteta hails Declan Rice’s virtuoso performance…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta waxed lyrical on Declan Rice’s performance at Selhurst Park as we maintained our 100% record at the start of the Premier League season on Monday night, he told reporters in his post-match debrief.

Rice was deployed in his more natural holding midfield role, and the former West Ham skipper certainly felt comfortable throughout.

It was the 24-year-old’s best performance for us so far and if you were to compare it to his first outing in that role against Manchester United in pre-season, his adaptation has been admirable.

Rice showed why he was Arteta’s top target and is a unique central midfielder who excels in every facet of what his position requires.

Arteta usually refrains from individual praise, but even he couldn’t hide his glee when asked about his record signing.

“I think it was great,” the Spaniard was quoted as saying.

“He bossed the midfield and dominated the game. He was very influential, both attacking and defending. Today he played a different position to last week because of what we expected from Palace and what we needed today, and I think he was really good.”

With a home game against Fulham coming up, one wonders if Arteta will once again deploy Rice in a more advanced role considering the game we expect to face.

Arteta likes a certain level of continuity and Rice’s display will no doubt have the boss seriously contemplating leaving him there for good and building the team around him.