Mikel Arteta singled out one "outstanding" performer after his Arsenal side staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 3-2 Premier League victory at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
Rice Steps Up With Crucial Brace
The Gunners found themselves a goal down at the Vitality Stadium but were powered to three crucial points by a dominant display from midfielder Declan Rice. The England international, 26, scored his first ever Premier League brace, netting twice to seal a hard-fought win against a tricky Cherries side.
While Rice has been a cornerstone of the Arsenal team since his arrival, his goal output has been steady rather than spectacular, with 20 goals in 130 appearances for the club. This places him some way behind the prolific scoring rates of Premier League midfield icons like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Paul Scholes.
Jermaine Defoe Sees Shades of a City Legend
However, his commanding performance on the south coast prompted high praise and a notable comparison. Analysing the match on BBC's Match of the Day, former England striker Jermaine Defoe directly likened Rice's influence to that of Manchester City great Yaya Toure.
"What a performance. When you look at the modern day midfielder, he does everything," Defoe said. "I remember Declan speaking to me a few years back and saying that he’s modelled his game on Yaya Toure. It was Yaya Toure like today, getting them up the pitch."
Defoe highlighted Rice's energy, awareness, and driving runs, noting that the only remaining step is to add more goals to his game. Toure, famed for his powerful surges from midfield, scored 80 times for City, including a remarkable 20-goal season in 2013/14.
Arteta Backs His Midfielder for World-Class Status
When asked post-match if Rice could be considered among the world's elite midfielders, manager Mikel Arteta gave a unequivocal endorsement. He pointed to the player's relentless drive to improve as his key asset.
"For me yes. For me, the ones that we have are the best," Arteta stated. "Declan is constantly adding things to his game. He's constantly adding things to his role in the team. I don't see where he can stop because he can still improve in a lot of areas and he wants to."
The Spanish coach concluded by labelling Rice a "pivotal player" for Arsenal, suggesting that the midfielder's development is far from complete. With performances drawing comparisons to one of the Premier League's most dominant midfield forces, Rice's trajectory continues to point upwards.
