“Sentiments aside, this guy deserve to be the best player in the league” Jamie Carragher makes huge Arsenal call as he praises ‘vastly underrated’ Arsenal star after Man City thrashing at the Emirates
“Sentiments aside, this guy deserve to be the best player in the league” Jamie Carragher makes huge Arsenal call as he praises ‘vastly underrated’ Arsenal star after Man City thrashing at the Emirates
Jamie Carragher praises ‘vastly underrated’ Arsenal star after Man City thrashing
Arsenal were utterly dominant in their 5-1 Premier League victory over Manchester City but Jamie Carragher still believes one Gunner star doesn’t get the credit he deserves
Jamie Carragher suggested Arsenal star Declan Rice is underrated by those who expect more goals and assists from the £105million man.
Former West Ham captain Rice has slotted seamlessly into Arsenal’s midfield, helping them come within two points of the Premier League title last season. The Gunners are a bit further back this term, but Rice was named player of the match in Sunday’s statement win against Manchester City.
The 26-year-old has three goals and seven assists this term, after ending last season with seven and 10 respectively. He has also scored twice for England in that time, netting in UEFA Nations League victories over Ireland and Finland.
He set up two of Arsenal’s five goals against City, with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri the beneficiaries. Carragher singled rice out for praise after the game, suggesting others might be demanding too much of the Gunners star.
“I almost feel sometimes that I’m one of Declan Rice’s biggest supporters because I do often find myself scratching my head when I see people criticise him and asking for more goals and assists,” Sky Sports pundit Carragher said. “They were two of the greatest midfield players in the world at that time and two of the greatest we’ve seen in the Premier League.
“I don’t remember anyone talking about how many goals or assists they got. They chipped in with five or six a season and for me, Declan Rice is one of those type of all-round midfielders – a bit like Roy Keane.
“He said he’s playing in the No.8 and a bit higher, but he’s almost like a throwback midfield player that used to play in a 4-4-2 formation and could do a bit of everything,” Carragher added. “I think he’s a wonderful player, his passing range is vastly underrated – you saw that with the pass for the fifth (goal). But in the build-up, getting on the ball, his power. Everything about him – his pressing early on – he’s an absolutely wonderful midfield player.”
Rice, however, was his own biggest critic after the game. “To get two assists was big – I need to add goals and assist to my game if I’m going to keep playing in the No.8 position,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m feeling way better than I did at the start of the season and we have to keep going to help this club achieve silverware which is why I’m here.”
Arsenal’s victory brought them back within six points of league leaders Liverpool, who beat Bournemouth on Saturday. Arne Slot’s team can extend their lead if they win their game in hand against Everton on February 12, but Rice insisted he and his team-mates will do all they can to close the gap
“We’ll be there, we’ll keep pushing,” he added. “We need other teams to help up and credit to Liverpool. They’ve been really good but it’s up us to hunt them down.”
