Mikel Arteta can be thanked for tactical tweak that Declan Rice saw the goods in the last third as Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira who says he is the player he likes to look at
Arsenal -legend Patrick Vieira has praised Mikel Arteta because he had Declan Rice bloom as a midfielder with the English star who still delivers his most effective season in terms of targeted involvement.
Rice has so far eight goals and 11 assists this season and his free kick double in the quarterfinals of the Champions League against Real Madrid was astonished most of European football.
And Gunners Icon Vieira believes in an interview with the Telegraph that the 26-year-old has hit a different level since he has been moved to a NO8 role, while Arteta earns praise for making rice more positional freedom that has arrived as a more defending player.
“I don't like to make comparisons, because I think we are all different with our strengths and weaknesses,” said Vieira. “But I think that first is the credit with the manager, with Mikel [Arteta]Because I think Declan is a midfielder, he went a little more to the eight.
“I think he saw the physical side of him do the box-to-box and is the player who can reach the box, with the second line, and then scoring goals.
“I think the change of position is very important, so the honor for that is the honor for Mikel. And then of course he is the player I like to view. I love his mind. I love his competitiveness. I like that he always goes ahead and he is a winner.
“I think this position, no. 8, suits him much better, because you can previously say:” Ok, he can play with the handbrake “. But play like a no. 8 and have it to go to the box and score goals. I think this is something that fits his playing style.”
Arsenal is preparing for Paris Saint-Germain in the second stage of their semi-final on Wednesday evening and lost the opening meeting at the Emirates 1-0 seven days ago.
Arteta will speak with the media from the city of Love on Tuesday evening, where he will offer an injury update in recent days that has said in recent days that one of Kai Havertz, Jorginho or Riccardo Calafiori could stand in line for a return.
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