Declan Rice makes mockery of Arsenal price tag after Mikel Arteta masterstroke
Even when Arsenal were 2-0 up, and with this game meandering to an end, Declan Rice never stopped running.
That has been the case all season when it comes to Rice, who quite frankly has made a mockery of his £105million transfer fee.
Whatever happens in this title race, he has been Arsenal’s player of the season and his goal here was the icing on the cake of a comfortable victory for Mikel Arteta’s side.
With just 90 seconds left, Rice charged forward for the umpteenth time and his run into the box was rewarded by Gabriel Jesus picking him out.
After bringing the ball under control, Rice fired it into the net and stood in front of the Arsenal fans, saluting them.
“Declan Rice, we got him half-price,” they sang and at the full-time whistle the midfielder lapped up more of their applause as ‘Ice, Ice Baby’ blared out over the PA system.
This performance encapsulated Rice’s transformation over the course of this season. He arrived at Arsenal from West Ham as a No6 and excelled for them at the base of midfield.
Midway through this season, though, Rice was pushed further forward by Mikel Arteta and it has proved a masterstroke.
The 25-year-old’s athleticism has enabled him to make an impact in both boxes and that was the case against Bournemouth.
Rice was effective in breaking up play in front of Arsenal’s defence, but he was equally adept at getting forward.
Truth be told, he should have had two goals after firing wide just before half-time when the net was gaping following a knockdown from Kai Havertz in the box.
Rice now has seven goals and nine assists this term, making it his best ever season from an attacking standpoint.
He was vital to Arsenal’s second goal here, playing a deft flick around the corner to Leandro Trossard, which the Belgian finished well first time.
In a week where Rice was pipped to the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Player of the Year award, this was a reminder as to why he ran Phil Foden so close.
Few players have had such a transformative effect on a team, not least when they have had the pressure of a £105m price tag.
Rice has dealt with all of that and taken his game to another level under Arteta. Still only 25, it is exciting for Arsenal to think what more there is to come.
