Arsenal is really flying high. And it’s all thanks to Declan Rice. The Gunners won a tough 3-2 game against Bournemouth recently. This big win put them even further ahead in the Premier League. Their manager, Mikel Arteta, pretty much said Rice is one of the best midfielders anywhere. That’s a huge compliment.
This match shows just how important Rice is to the team. He even played through a recent injury. His goals really made the difference in the game.
Rice Shines in Crucial Bournemouth Victory
The game against Bournemouth on Saturday was a real test. Bournemouth actually started strong. They took an early lead. Evanilson scored after a rare mistake from Gabriel Magalhaes. Gabriel passed the ball poorly, and Evanilson just slotted it home.
But Arsenal didn’t give up. Gabriel quickly made up for his error. He scored minutes later. Noni Madueke set him up from the byline. The score was 1-1 then. And that set the stage for Declan Rice to take over.
Rice scored the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute. He side-footed it in from the edge of the box. It was a really good finish. Later, with about 20 minutes left, he scored again. Bukayo Saka cut the ball back, and Rice put it away. That made it 3-2, which ended up being the final score. It was his first Premier League brace, which is pretty crazy. He’s played 236 times in the league!
What’s amazing is that Rice almost didn’t play. He missed the earlier 4-1 win over Aston Villa because of a knee problem. Arteta said he “stretched himself to the very limit” to be ready for Bournemouth. That shows you his dedication. His two goals were huge. They proved he’s becoming a major threat in front of goal. Arsenal is definitely consolidating their top spot now.
Arteta’s Lavish Praise for His Midfield Maestro
Mikel Arteta was full of praise after the match. He spoke to Sky Sports about Rice. “He has stretched himself to the very limit and the team were awarded with two great goals,” Arteta said. He really highlighted Rice’s commitment and impact. When asked if Rice is one of the world’s best midfielders, Arteta didn’t hesitate. “Yes, for me, yes,” he said. He thinks Rice is always improving.
Rice came to Arsenal from West Ham in 2023. It was a club-record £105 million transfer. Since then, he’s just gotten better and better. He’s known for his strong defense and good passing. He can also score from long range. He’s kind of a hybrid player now, a No. 6 and a No. 8.
Arteta also praised Gabriel for bouncing back. “I love the character of Gabriel, the way he overcame that situation—it’s just unbelievable, it says a lot about how much we’ve grown,” he added. This team seems to have a lot of resilience now. ESPN reported on Arteta’s strong conviction about Rice.
Rice is also England’s captain. He has 58 caps and played every minute of Euro 2024. That just adds to his elite status. He’s now being compared to top players like Rodri, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde.
Title Race Heats Up: Pundits Weigh In
This win really shook up the Premier League standings. Arsenal now has a six-point lead over Aston Villa. And they’re seven points ahead of Manchester City. They’re clearly frontrunners for the 2025-26 title. The festive schedule is always tough, but Arsenal is handling it well.
Pundits were also talking about Rice. Jamie Redknapp from Sky Sports called Rice a “leader” for Arsenal. Even though Martin Odegaard wears the armband, Redknapp thinks Rice is the true leader. “Rice was immense,” Redknapp said. “Two goals, so important… he runs you into the ground with his energy.”
Paul Merson also commented on Arsenal’s form. He said they “grind teams down” and reminded him of Sir Alex Ferguson’s old Manchester United teams. “The squad is so, so strong,” Merson told Sky Sports. He thinks this puts a lot of pressure on Man City. According to BBC Sport, Arteta emphasized the mentality needed from everyone.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth is struggling. They’re now 11 matches without a win. Their manager, Andoni Iraola, acknowledged Arsenal’s quality. There are also rumors their top scorer, Antoine Semenyo, might leave. Apparently, Manchester City is interested in him. That would be a tough blow for Bournemouth.
Arsenal’s form suggests this praise for Rice will continue. The team has really matured. They can handle setbacks like Gabriel’s early mistake now. Rice’s knee issue seems managed, too, which is good. He’s fully fit and powering their midfield. It’s a pretty exciting time for Arsenal fans right now. The Independent also covered Arteta’s post-match comments.
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