Former Liverpool star and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has urged Arsenal summer signing Declan Rice to improve his attributes in the final third of the pitch.
The Gunners held onto a slender 1-0 lead with 10-man for the better part of the second half to secure all three points against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday. The victory leaves themselves, Manchester City, and Brighton as the only three sides with 100 percent records after two games of the new Premier League campaign.
The Emirates club began the second half with positive attacking play and were awarded a penalty courtesy of a clever set-piece routine by Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah. Martin Odegaard tucked away the penalty with composure, sending the Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone the wrong way.
Following Takehiro Tomiyasu’s harsh sending-off, Mikel Arteta had to make several changes to the team, but Rice played every minute of the game. He pulled the strings from midfield and provided much need cover to the backline in the dying minutes of the game. However, Carragher had one criticism of the Englishman.
The 45-year-old thinks Rice must improve the attacking side of his game. But he admits that the midfielder’s goal tally will improve as the season progresses. While speaking on Monday Night Football, he said:
“I think the one big criticism that everyone will have of Declan Rice, which I think has been a little bit unfair in his career up until now, would be how many goals he scored. When you talk about a player costing £105 million, you are thinking that I want everything.”
“When we’re talking about getting into positions to score, that [his finishing] has to massively improve. So, yes, it’s been a legitimate criticism before but now he’s playing for a better team I think his numbers have to go higher.”
Arsenal Fever View:
Rice has had a great start to life at the English capital following his club-record move from West Ham United in the summer transfer window. His outstanding defensive skills were on display against the Eagles, and they are one of the reasons that persuaded the north Londoners to break the bank to secure his services.
West Ham’s defensive system limited his opportunities going forward. On the contrary, Arteta’s brand of attacking football would give him the freedom to venture into much advanced positions. Undoubtedly, Rice will be on the Gunners’ scoresheet sooner rather than later this season.
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