‘So impressed’… Pundit says Arsenal fans didn’t even realise how good their 25-year-old player was

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Declan Rice has proven to be one of the signings of the summer.

The England international is one of the big reasons why Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League, and, somehow, he’s going a long way towards justifying that £105m transfer fee.

Rice has been brilliant for Arsenal, and while he arrived with big expectations after becoming the club’s record signing this summer, it’s fair to say that he’s surpassed some of his expectations.

Speaking on Off The Ball, Adrian Clarke has been discussing Rice’s impact at Arsenal this season, and he says that the midfielder has actually surprised a lot of Arsenal supporters, claiming that he has more tools in his locker than many fans realised.

Declan Rice has surprised Arsenal fans

Clarke spoke about the summer signing.

“I still think in that big game at the Etihad I fully expect Rice and Jorginho to be in there together and I don’t think Rice will be that much of a box-to-box midfielder, he’ll be more of a double pivot. I’ve been so impressed by Rice in terms of what he can do. He has a more tools in his locker than Arsenal fans thought he had at the start of the season,” Clarke said.

What a player

Clarke isn’t wrong, Rice has proven this season that he has more to his game than many ever realised.

When he joined Arsenal, he was simply a holding midfield player, but now, he’s chipping in with a number of key goals and he’s transformed into a bit of a set-piece specialist too.

This is a player who always seems to be adding to his game, and he has to be considered one of the signings of the season.

Rice has taken many by surprise, and Mikel Arteta must be over the moon with the impact the midfielder has made this term.