Karl Robinson has named Declan Rice as one of the best players he has ever faced in his coaching career, picking the Arsenal star alongside the likes of Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan.
Declan Rice has unquestionably been a fantastic signing for Arsenal following his club-record move in the summer transfer window.
It cannot be easy for a player to thrive after costing £100 million or more, as this season has shown. But Rice has been absolutely outstanding for Arsenal.
Declan Rice named one of the best players manager has faced
One person who will not be at all surprised to see the 24-year-old thriving at the Emirates is Karl Robinson.
The current Salford City boss was on Sam Allardyce’s coaching team when he was appointed as Leeds United caretaker for the final four games of last season. One of those games saw the side face a West Ham team captained by Rice.
And speaking to The Telegraph about the best players he has faced, Robinson suggested that he was blown away by the midfielder’s display at the London Stadium.
“You have to look at Man City. When I saw Ilkay Gundogan I didn’t realise how good he was. Phil Foden made one of his first starts (against us) and scored his first goal and I made that comparison with (Andres) Iniesta – and someone else said it a year later! Then seeing Declan Rice up close.
The power he had, the calmness. We went man-to-man against him (at Leeds United) and he just cruised. There are moments on the touchline when you just go wow – like when Didier Drogba runs past you,” he said.
Arsenal star continues to improve each season
It was becoming clear at that stage that Rice was destined to take that next step in his career. West Ham were on the verge of winning the Europa Conference League. And Rice had been heavily linked with Arsenal for a little while at that point.
The Gunners ultimately got their man. And the England international has looked as though he is the perfect player for Arteta’s system.
Certainly, you would imagine that plenty of other coaches would echo Robinson’s view on facing Rice.