Scott Parker Arsenal have a ‘physical’ player who is actually a bit like James Maddison

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Declan Rice has shown another side to his game in recent weeks.

Indeed, the midfielder has been playing a bit higher up since Jorginho came back into this Arsenal side, while he’s also become the club’s designated set-piece taker as of late.

Rice has started to take the Gunners’ corners, and it’s fair to say that his delivery has been a real difference-maker to this team.

Rice has set up a number of big goals in recent weeks from these set plays, and that has added an extra element to his game.

Speaking on Premier League Productions, Scott Parker has been discussing Rice’s newfound set-piece threat, and he says that this technical ability that he’s showing almost reminds him a bit of James Maddison from Tottenham.

Declan Rice is becoming more technical

The pundit spoke about the England international’s recent showings.

“He’s an all-round world-class midfielder. I think his best position is as a six though. You know he can smell danger, he’s that player really,’ Parker said.

“If you name the players who take the set plays for certain teams, it’s people like James Maddison, highly technical players who put the balls into the right areas, but he has that in his game as well as the physical game, there’s a technical element and his goal against West Ham proves that and him taking set plays proves that as well.”

New string to his bow

Rice’s recent emergence as a set-piece specialist has added another string to his bow and another dynamic to the Arsenal attack.

The Gunners have always been brilliant from set-plays, but Rice’s pinpoint delivery has somehow made them even better.

Rice looks like he’s been taking set-pieces for years, but this is a new trend and it’s one that Mikel Arteta has done very well to spot.