David O’Leary has labelled one Arsenal player a revelation, claiming that he has been so impressed by his consistency throughout the season.
It is threatening to be a special campaign for Mikel Arteta’s side. Once again, they find themselves in title contention in the Premier League. They have also reached the last eight of the Champions League.
Of course, the Gunners just fell short in the top-flight last year. And that may be in the back of the mind of supporters, with Liverpool joining them in a title charge this time around.
However, this Arsenal team look to be more mature than last season. They certainly appear to have used the experience of the previous campaign in a positive way, going on to take four points from Manchester City this term.
Arsenal star has been a revelation this season
But the squad has also improved. And there is no debate over just how great an impact Declan Rice has had since his club-record move in the summer.
Rice adapted so quickly at the Emirates, turning himself into a key part of the side. And with that, talk over the transfer fee which brought Rice across the capital stopped almost immediately.
He has come up with a number of key goals. And he appears to give Arteta’s team such balance, with the way he is able to protect the backline while also making an impact in the final third.
Speaking on talkSPORT (broadcast on 3/4; 9:20), David O’Leary suggested that he has been blown away by just how influential the England international has been.
“Declan Rice has had a fantastic affect. He has been so constant and such a high standard all the way through. He has been a revelation,” he said.
Declan Rice’s arrival a defining moment for the Gunners
It should not have come as a surprise to see Rice play so well. He has stepped up at every opportunity in his career; going from a bright centre-back at West Ham to one of his country’s most important players ahead of a major tournament.
Arsenal now have the best defensive and attacking records in the league. And Rice has to take a lot of the credit for both of those statistics.
If Arsenal do go on and win the title from here, many will look back at Rice’s arrival as a defining moment for this particular squad.
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