Lee Hendrie has lauded and applauded the performances Declan Rice is putting in for Arsenal following his club-record transfer in the summer.
The previous Arsenal player to hold the role of ‘club-record transfer’ was a certain, Nicolas Pepe.
The contrasting impacts the duo have had on the London club is mind-boggling and proof that it’s not always the huge sums of money that puts unwanted distracting pressure on these players.
Declan Rice has dealt with his pressures with absolute ease and is enjoying life in the middle of the park for Arsenal.
So much so that former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie thinks the 25-year-old is ‘the best in that role that I know of’, as he told The Football Show on Sky Sports.
After watching his players dispatch sorry West Ham last week, Mikel Arteta sat back and witnessed his team dismantle Burnley in the same fashion.
Lee Hendrie shared that he was at Turf Moor for that game and he couldn’t hide the enjoyment he had in watching Declan Rice in action.
Is Declan Rice going under the radar?
“I have to, have to, have to single out Declan Rice,” said an adamant Hendrie. “What a signing he has been for Arsenal.
“I don’t care what anyone says he, and that role he plays, is quite phenomenal. The best in that role that I know of and goes under the radar for setting Arsenal on their way for how good they are attacking.”
Stepping it up a level
So far, it has been top, top quality from Rice, but this is where he can seriously elevate his status and prove that he is a world-class performer.
First of all, Arsenal are going to start their knockout road for the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night when they take on Porto away from home.
Perform in these huge pressure moments, then your status will just grow through the roof because this is Europe’s elite.
Then there is pushing and trying to win the Premier League title, once again, if Rice helps his team over the line, then he will go up another level in his career and put himself in that world-class bracket.
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