Tom Cairney has spoken highly about Declan Rice after he put in another stellar performance for Arsenal.
It could be argued, against the club where he made a name for himself, Declan Rice produced his best display since his club-record transfer to the Emirates against West Ham United on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta watched his side put six past their London rivals, with Declan Rice bagging himself two assists and a goal.
Tom Cairney thinks that game was ‘easy’ for the England star and that he is someone who will just get ‘better and better’ in Arsenal colours, as he told Premier League Productions (12/02/24 at 10:45 pm).
The Fulham captain added ‘people don’t understand’ how much ground the £105 million covers because it’s an ‘underrated’ part of his game.
Marco Silva’s side beat Fulham 2-1 in the Premier League in December, with Tom Cairney assisting his side’s opening goal.
The 33-year-old was up against Declan Rice on that day and he added that his counterpart is also ‘technically gifted’.
Declan Rice ‘underrated’
“I played against him a few times when he was in a West Ham shirt and now an Arsenal shirt, but I just think he is going to get better and better with age, experience, playing with better players and they are going to bring out of him,” said Cairney.
“It looked a bit easy for him (against West Ham). I watched the whole game. The goal he scored. I feel like he has that in his locker. For Arteta to put him on set-pieces in general, it shows the technical ability he has.
“From when I speak to players that have played with him, I have seen a few England interviews, he is so technically gifted. I don’t think people understand how technically gifted he is, apart from the people who have trained with him.
“What Declan Rice is underrated at and why the price tag he has got is, and most people don’t see it, is that he covers ground so well and covers spaces so well. I think that’s why Moyes loved him so much because he is an organisational coach and quite defensive. He literally covers them areas effortlessly and for 90 minutes. He makes gaps smaller, he will edge closer to you and make you go backwards. He is just so athletic and a strong boy.”
Declan Rice price-tag
It has become the norm in the modern game for players to be transferred for inflated prices and for fees that are just beyond ridiculous.
Many players, especially midfielders, have been purchased for £100 million+ in these last few years, but it could be argued the best one of the lot is Rice.
Arsenal fans were crying out for him, and despite breaking their club-record transfer for his services, he hasn’t looked a touch out of place.
It could even be argued that Rice has been his side’s best player this season and probably one of the best in the Premier League so far, with the title race set to go to the wire.