This season, Declan Rice, an Arsenal midfielder with seven goals and ten assists, was chosen second only to Phil Foden as the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Watch Man Utd vs. Arsenal live on Sky Sports Premier League.
“Declan Rice.” When asked why his team has been playing more openly defensively this season, David Moyes delivered a succinct response at the final news conference before it was revealed he would be departing West Ham at the conclusion of the campaign.
It came from the depths of Stamford Bridge, the despondent reply from a man whose destiny had been extensively discussed. It would do to name the single player who turned into the face of Moyes’s triumphant comeback as Hammers manager. Rice’s final act as the club’s captain was to lift the Europa Conference League, capping off his fairytale finish in claret and blue. After almost a year, supporters of Arsenal now chant, “Declan Rice, we got him half-price,” making fun of those who objected to the £105 million transfer.
After only one league victory in nine games, Moyes’ squad is no longer in the running to make it to the playoffs for the fourth time. The Scot attributed his club’s defensive shortcomings to Rice’s departure last summer.
“When you’ve got the best midfield player in the country (Rice) protecting, making sure to limit 50 per cent of the attacks, when you get that it makes you a much better defensive team,” he further explained.
“We’ve lacked protection in front of the back four, we’ve lacked good enough defending. We’ve just not been good enough at those things.”
Since Rice was transferred to Arsenal, West Ham has given up 70 goals in the league in 36 games, including five goals in each of their previous two away games.
With the arrival of Jorginho and Thomas Partey in more recent games, his position at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta has changed to one where he is expected to contribute more to the attack.
With 91.3 percent of his touches, Rice has also maintained possession; the only other midfielder with a higher percentage is Rodri, who has 93.7 percent.
After straying from an experiment at the beginning of the campaign in which Partey was employed as an auxiliary right back, Arteta has decided on this balance.
Speaking after Rice capped another complete display with a goal in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth last weekend, Arteta admitted his impact in the final third had surprised him.
“We thought it was going to be very related to the spaces he was going to occupy on the pitch but it’s something else to then do it in this league,” he said.
“He’s done it – even when we’ve changed him from position to position… it’s not easy to adapt to that.”
Rice was brought in for a specific job – to provide greater solidity – but he has seven goals and 10 assists in all competitions this term.
Ηi there mates, nice article and pleasant arguments commented at this place, I am truly enjoyіng by these.
Thank you Buddy