Rice impact at Arsenal shows how Man Utd have got it wrong in midfield balance

"Declan Rice."

It was the two-word answer David Moyes gave in the final press conference before it was announced he would be leaving West Ham at the end of the season as to why his side have been defensively more open this season.

From the bowels of Stamford Bridge, it was the forlorn response of a man whose future had been the subject of much speculation. Naming the one player who became the poster boy of Moyes' successful second spell as Hammers boss would suffice.

Lifting the Europa Conference League was Rice's fairytale ending in claret and blue, his final act as the club's captain. Nearly 12 months on, Arsenal fans now sing - "Declan Rice, we got him half-price" - making a mockery of those who balked at the £105m fee.

Moyes has seen his side fall out of contention to qualify for a fourth successive European campaign after a run of one league win in nine, and the Scot pointed to the loss of Rice last summer as the reason for his team's defensive frailties.

"When you've got the best midfield player in the country (Rice) protecting, making sure to limit 50 per cent of the attacks, when you get that it makes you a much better defensive team," he further explained.

"We've lacked protection in front of the back four, we've lacked good enough defending. We've just not been good enough at those things."

The Premier League is on track to see not only the fewest goalless matches in a season, but also the smallest proportion of them over a single campaign. There have only been 11 to date.

With an average of 3.27 goals per game, we are also on course for the highest number of goals scored, underlining the importance of having a solid defensive structure.

Everton's surge to Premier League survival was thanks in no small part to three