Arsenal star Declan Rice was labelled as the 'best player on the pitch' against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday evening. The England international was instrumental as the Gunners maintained their place at the top of the Premier League table over Christmas.
Mikel Arteta heaped the praise upon Rice, along with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, as Arsenal came through a difficult test against Jurgen Klopp's side. "Those three were phenomenal but I think the whole team stepped up to the level they put today," the Spaniard said.
«It was one of the best Liverpool (performances) I have seen this year. They make life really difficult and the game becomes really chaotic and the crowd provokes that as well. I think we handled it really well.»
NBC pundits Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe were left stunned at how well Rice performed against the Reds, controlling the midfield and covering in defence at key moments. Speaking on The Two Robbies podcast, Earle said: “Declan Rice was unbelievable in that game.
“Best player on the pitch,” Mustoe replied. “By a mile,” Earle added.
“His composure, he was trying to control things, put his foot in. He was covering centre-backs.
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«Remember the time with the break away and Trent Alexander-Arnold hits the post, it was Declan Rice versus five Liverpool forwards. He looked like a Hollywood idol, like he pulled out a sabre said, ‘come on then, I’ll take the lot of you on’. He was in another mode.”
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