Declan Rice's Heroics Propel Arsenal to Premier League Lead
Declan Rice, despite injury concerns, "stretched himself to the very limit" to play and score twice, helping Arsenal secure a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth and extend their lead to six points at the top of the Premier League, according to manager Mikel Arteta.
The 26-year-old England midfielder missed Arsenal's previous match due to a knee injury but was included in the starting lineup for the game on Saturday.
This marked just the second occasion in his 375 senior club appearances that he scored more than once in a match, the first being his remarkable free-kick brace against Real Madrid last season.
Rice expressed his satisfaction to the BBC, stating, "I have been in situations before where I have scored one in a game, wanted to score another, and it hasn’t happened - but now it has."
Arteta praised Rice's determination, saying, "Declan Rice was struggling the last few days but pushed and pushed to make himself available. He played 96 minutes, scored two goals, and was one of the best players on the pitch. That is the mentality we need from all of us."
When asked if Rice ranks among the best midfielders globally, Arteta affirmed, "For me, yes. Declan is constantly adding to his game and his role in the team, and I don’t see where he can stop because he can still improve in many areas and he wants to improve."
Following his impressive performance, former Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe commented on BBC Match of the Day, "I thought it was a masterclass. In and out of possession, he was so good, winning second balls and demonstrating excellent positioning. He’s definitely up there with the best midfielders in Europe and is a key player for Arsenal in the title race."
Rice has thrived in a more attacking midfield role at Arsenal, having previously played defensively at West Ham. This season, he has recorded the most passes into the box of any Premier League player, totaling 146. He is also among the top ten in touches, chances created, and possession won.
With four Premier League goals this season, Rice trails only Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard, who both have five. Additionally, he leads the team in line-breaking passes and progressive carries.
Arteta remarked, "He is extremely consistent in everything you ask him to do, which makes a significant difference. He has the abilities and qualities to achieve that, and he is delivering it every single day, resulting in performances like this one."
Reflecting on his two goals, Rice noted, "That’s a crazy stat. I haven’t scored a lot this season; I’d only scored two, so to grab a brace today in an important victory was a really nice feeling. Winning and being able to help the team adds an extra special feeling."
Rice has scored five goals in 12 Premier League games against Bournemouth, more than against any other team in the league.
The victory puts Arsenal six points ahead of second-placed Aston Villa, although Manchester City can reduce the gap back to four points when they host Chelsea on Sunday. January will be a busy month for Arsenal, featuring nine matches, including four league games, two in the Champions League, an FA Cup tie against Portsmouth, and a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
Arsenal remains in contention for all four trophies this season, having won all six of their Champions League matches. However, the Carabao Cup presents their first opportunity for silverware since winning the FA Cup in the 2019-20 season under Arteta.
Sky Sports pundit and former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp commented, "Everything is going so well for Arsenal. While the Carabao Cup may be the least important competition for them, winning it would alleviate some pressure. They are focused on the league title, but winning a trophy would certainly help them relax."