Journalist Adrian Clarke has now heaped praise on one Arsenal star for a unique quality that he demonstrated against Manchester City.
A number of Arsenal players produced impressive individual performances against Manchester City on Sunday.
The Gunners put in a gritty and determined defensive effort at the Etihad Stadium. Mikel Arteta set his side up to sit deep and soak up plenty of pressure and his players performed that task admirably, blunting the hosts as an attacking force.
The north London club were rewarded with a 0-0 draw and a crucial Premier League point. Manchester City could only muster one shot on target in the match and failed to score in a home fixture for the first time in 58 games.
William Saliba was a dominant force in the heart of the Arsenal defence. Alongside the Frenchman, Gabriel Magalhaes won his physical battle with Erling Haaland.
In the middle of the park Declan Rice caught the eye with his committed performance.
One impressive thing Declan Rice did against Man City
This is perhaps unsurprising as the former West Ham United man has been reliably brilliant all season. Ever since his arrival the Emirates Stadium in the recent summer transfer window the 25-year-old has added steel to the spine of the team.
Up against Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions Rice was handed the unenviable task of keeping Kevin De Bruyne quiet. The Arsenal man was able to prevent the Belgian superstar from dictating the game and unlocking the Gunners’ defence.
One moment in the match in particular stood out to Adrian Clarke. Speaking on the Handbrake Off podcast, he said, “he just gives everything, doesn’t he? You couldn’t not like Declan Rice…He’s got good pace, hasn’t he, in recovery? There was one moment, I think he lost the ball, and De Bruyne pinched it and went surging down the middle and Rice got back so quickly and just got a toe on the ball, and I thought ‘wow!’ There’s no one else in our team who could’ve done that. Partey couldn’t have done it. Jorginho couldn’t have done it. He is invaluable.”
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Declan Rice destined to be key for Arsenal now and in the future
Rice has been a revelation at Arsenal this season, and if the Gunners do go on to be crowned Premier League champions at the end of the campaign then a significant portion of the credit for that success will be owed to him.
With Thomas Partey still looking rusty following his recent return from injury, and the ageing Jorginho unable to play full matches week in, week out, it is now more vital than ever that Rice is able to remain fit and firing on all cylinders as Arsenal seek to negotiate a run-in in which they have almost no room for error.
The 50-cap England international represents the long-term future of the club in that part of the pitch. Even though a midfield rebuild is on the cards at Arsenal, Rice will remain at the heart of Arteta’s plans.