Jamie Carragher praises ‘vastly underrated’ Arsenal star after Man City win
Jamie Carragher believes that Declan Rice’s talent is going underappreciate after his latest man-of-the-match display for Arsenal against Manchester City.
Rice registered two assists and had a hand สมัคร UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ in Arsenal’s opener as Mikel Arteta’s side dismantle City with a convincing 5-1 win at the Emirates.
The Gunners took the lead in the second minute but found themselves level early in the second half after Erling Haaland’s header.
However, the hosts restore their lead just moments later through Thomas Partey’s deflecte strike and adde a third shortly after through Myles Lewis-Skelly.
A fourth from Kai Havertz and a late goal from Ethan Nwaneri were the icing on the cake for a dominant Arsenal side who now move within six points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.
Despite a flurry of goals, it was the all-round display and assists from Rice that earned the 26-year-old the man of the match award.
The English midfielder’s now has six goal involvements in the league this campaign, although that figure is on track to be considerably lower than the 15 he managed in his maiden league campaign with the Gunners.
However, in lauding Rice’s display on Sunday, Carragher insiste that those who focus merely on his goal involements are vastly underselling the midfielder’s capabilities.
‘I almost feel sometimes that I’m one of Declan Rice’s biggest supporters because I do often find myself scratching my head when I see people criticise him and asking for more goals and assists,’ said Carragher on.
‘I know in the last 10-15 years we look at numbers and analyse things (differently) but I always think about when Thierry (Henry) playe alongside Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit in midfield.
They were two of the greatest midfield players in the world at that time and two of the greatest we’ve seen in the Premier League. I don’t remember anyone talking about how many goals or assists they got.
‘They chipped in with five or six a season and for me, Declan Rice is one of those type of all-round midfielders – a bit like Roy Keane.
‘He said he’s playing in the No.8 and a bit higher, but he’s almost like a throwback midfield player that used to play in a 4-4-2 formation and could do a bit of everything.’
Carragher continued: ‘I think he’s a wonderful player, his passing range is vastly underrated – you saw that with the pass for the fifth (goal).