Declan Rice's £105m Arrival Sets Arsenal on an Unstoppable Course

Declan Rice, speaking to We, stated that he now views football in a profoundly altered manner. In late July, the 24-year-old reflected on his initial weeks under the guidance of Mikel Arteta.

He expressed his astonishment at the drastic change, describing Arsenal's approach as drastically distinct from what he was accustomed to at West Ham. Additionally, Rice noted the manager's meticulous attention to detail. He acknowledged that it would be entirely reasonable to expect a period of adaptation.

However, after two months, there has been limited proof of this. Arsenal's performance has not been impressive in the early stages of the season. Nevertheless, on a personal level, Rice has seamlessly fit into the team, making an immediate impact in their midfield.

In his Arsenal journey so far, he has already achieved a significant milestone - scoring the winning goal against Manchester United in the sixth minute of stoppage time at the ecstatic Emirates Stadium. However, above all, his story has been about his reliability and steadiness.

Rice has not let the pressure of his £105m price-tag affect him and instead prioritized what is important. "There will always be speculation about me," he told We after the victory against Manchester United. "I simply focus on delivering strong performances."

The positive atmosphere was apparent from the beginning. Arteta praised his seamless performance during his debut against Nottingham Forest. A week later, he showcased his dominance in the midfield during a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. "Jamie Carragher described him as the standout player on the field," stated the report.

Since the United game, there have been impressive performances against Everton and PSV Eindhoven, showcasing Gabriel Jesus' admiration for his new team-mate's outstanding contribution amidst the surrounding chaos.

Rice has showcased his versatility by playing as a No 8 and a No 6 in different matches. At first, he partnered with Thomas Partey as an inverted full-back on his right side. However, in recent times, he has teamed up with Oleksandr Zinchenko on his left side. He has successfully adapted to these changes, all while getting accustomed to a completely new style of play.

His presence not only enhances defensive security in Arsenal's midfield, as Arteta emphasizes his skill in disrupting play and uniting the team during stretching moments, but also leaves a significant impact on the attacking front.

Rice, primarily functioning as a deep-lying midfielder, frequently takes charge of propelling the team forward. This was evident in the exhilarating victory against Manchester United, where he adeptly utilized his defensive and offensive abilities to initiate Arsenal's attacks after gaining possession.

Consider this example early in the game, when he could be seen tackling Bruno Fernandes in the Arsenal half.

Immediately after gaining possession of the ball, he swiftly dashes into the open area on the left wing, luring a defender towards him and thus opening up space for Eddie Nketiah to swiftly pass the ball to Gabriel Martinelli.

That passage of play ended in a chance for Kai Havertz and there was a similarly eye-catching moment in the second period.

Demonstrating remarkable vigilance, Rice intercepts Antony's pass just inside the Manchester United half. He swiftly maneuvers the ball past the Brazilian winger and delivers a precise through-ball towards his left, where an Arsenal overload consisting of Havertz and Martinelli awaits.

Arsenal, however, failed to take advantage of the situation when Nketiah miscontrolled Martinelli's cut-back. Nevertheless, this incident once again highlighted the threat that Rice poses in such scenarios. Up until now, only three players in the Premier League have made more carries than him this season.

Rice's ability to carry the ball was undoubtedly a significant asset to West Ham. However, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martinelli, and the rest now making forward runs ahead of him, his importance to Arsenal seems even greater.

Data also supports this claim. Rice had an average of about two viable passing choices when he passed the ball after his carries at West Ham. However, at Arsenal, that number increases to around three.

The potential for Rice's attacking abilities is incredibly exciting, and Arteta is committed to unlocking them. In fact, even when Rice has played as the sole defensive midfielder this season, he has been encouraged to make attacking movements into open spaces both with and without the ball.

The best example came in the win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and almost yielded an Arsenal goal.

Spotting an opportunity on the right-hand side of the field just outside the Palace box, Rice quickly moves past the unaware Eberechi Eze and receives a precise pass from Martin Odegaard. He then skillfully passes the ball to Nketiah, who unfortunately hits the post with his attempt in a one-on-one situation.

"He possesses the timing to enter the box," expressed Arteta. "His position is to initiate from a deeper role and progress forward," stated Carragher. "I believe that is where he excels," appended the We pundit.

Undoubtedly, Rice possesses the stamina for this. According to Premier League tracking data, just three players - Dejan Kulusevski, Fernandes, and Philip Billing - have surpassed his distance covered this season.

Rice's exceptional abilities, both in terms of physicality and technical skills, are evident in the statistics that showcase the demands Arteta places on him. Notably, his passing prowess has been exceptional, serving as a crucial aspect in propelling Arsenal forward.

Rice has completed more final-third passes than all but six players in the Premier League this season, with only Odegaard and Saka from Arsenal surpassing his numbers. Remarkably, he has maintained an exceptional accuracy rate of 92 percent. Taking a closer look at the statistics, Rice ranks third among Arsenal players in terms of involvements in pass sequences that lead to shots, trailing only Odegaard and Saka. Although his contributions may not always stand out, they are undeniably meaningful.

With his first north London derby on the horizon, the task at hand is to replicate a similar performance against a revitalized Tottenham team. The promising display in the victory over United provides motivation for more of the same.

"In such crucial matches, the presence of a player who seizes the opportunity and possesses the ability to gauge the right moments to accelerate, decelerate, or maintain control is essential," stated Arteta at the beginning of this month.

In essence, what is required is a player akin to Declan Rice.

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