Declan Rice’s standout moments in the match against Crystal Palace served as confirmation that Arsenal’s decision to break their transfer record and bring him to the club was justified.
In July, Arsenal made a significant investment of £105 million to secure Rice’s services from West Ham United.
This move not only set a new transfer record for Arsenal but also momentarily established Rice as the most expensive player in British football.
This title was later surpassed by Moises Caicedo’s transfer from Brighton to Chelsea.
Following Rice’s impressive performances in pre-season and against Nottingham Forest in the previous weekend, he once again showcased his value during Arsenal’s match against Crystal Palace on Monday night.
In the midst of his performance, the 24-year-old midfielder delivered an authoritative and influential display in the heart of the pitch, asserting his dominance over his opponents.
Rice’s presence provided the defensive stability that Mikel Arteta’s team needed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, with Martin Odegaard sealing the win through a penalty kick.
Following the match, a compilation of Rice’s standout moments against Palace gained significant traction on social media. Beyond his evident defensive prowess, Rice was also actively involved in some of Arsenal’s most promising offensive plays.
Numerous fans have already lauded Rice for the positive impact he’s making within the Arsenal squad.
Declan Rice vs Crystal Palace
(@_DeclanRice) pic.twitter.com/NFcdh2JaCD
— Sjayy 🎱 (@sjayy24s) August 21, 2023
Speaking about Rice after the match, Arteta said: “I thought he was fantastic. He really dominated the game.
“He bossed the midfield and dominated the game. He was very influential, both attacking and defending. Today he played a different position to last week because of what we expected from Palace and what we needed today, and I think he was really good.”
Whilst former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said: “Declan Rice was the best player on the pitch.
“I actually like him in the role he played tonight more than popping up between the lines. His initial position was to start in that deeper position and drive forward from it. I think that is where he is at his best.”
He added: “It felt like everything went through him. He was in the centre of the pitch, he was getting the ball, he was switching play – a couple of great 50 to 60-yard passes.
“But also when he made that run, he slipped a little pass to Nketiah. He was the best player on the pitch. I thought he was outstanding.”
Thoughts on Rice’s performance? Let us know in the comments.