Garth Crooks has praised Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice for his performance against Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in North London in the Premier League this past weekend.
Arsenal got the better of Manchester United 3-1 at home in the league on Sunday.
Declan Rice, who joined Arsenal from London and Premier League rivals West Ham United in the summer transfer window, scored the second goal for the home team in the sixth minute of injury time.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the England international’s performance on Sunday as “tremendous”.
Praise for Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice vs Manchester United
Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Garth Crooks was hugely impressed with Rice and has included him in his BBC Premier League Team of the Week.
The pundit believes that Rice has been superb for the Gunners so far this season.
Crooks wrote about Rice on BBC Sport: “I hated the social media post of Rice in an Arsenal shirt just days after lifting the Europa Conference League trophy with West Ham and telling everyone he was now north London.
“I suppose it was a message of intent and that he had no further allegiance with the Hammers. His performances so far this season for Arsenal would confirm that position.
“Rice has been outstanding for the Gunners since his arrival and provides everything Granit Xhaka could do, without the Swiss international’s recklessness or combustible nature.
“His goal against Manchester United in the final seconds of the match doesn’t just win you games, they are the goals that, in the final analysis, win you titles.
“The control of the ball from the corner on his chest was special and so was the finish under the circumstances.”
Rice is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, and we are not surprised at all to see how well he has done for Arsenal so far this season.
The Englishman has slotted perfectly into the Arsenal starting lineup and has made himself a huge figure for the Gunners in the middle of the park.
Arsenal look better and stronger with Rice in the team.
And he is just getting started.
We believe that Rice’s importance in the team will only grow in the coming weeks and months.
During his time on the pitch at the Emirates Stadium against Manchester United on Sunday, Rice took two shots and one ended in a goal, had a pass accuracy of 87.7%, won three headers, took 85 touches, and made one tackle, two interceptions and one clearance.
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