Arsenal Star’s Surprising Performance in West Ham Victory: Paul Scholes Reveals
Arsenal’s dominant 6-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday afternoon showcased some unexpected talents from Arsenal star Declan Rice, according to former Hammers player Paul Scholes. Rice, who made the switch from the London Stadium to the Emirates in a £105m deal last summer, played a crucial role in Arsenal’s impressive win, closing the gap on league leaders Liverpool to just two points.
One of the standout moments of the match came when Rice took a corner that led to William Saliba heading home Arsenal’s opening goal just after the half-hour mark. This set the tone for a commanding performance from the Gunners. Rice continued to impress, providing his second assist of the game just before halftime as Gabriel capitalized on his cross to secure Arsenal’s third goal.
What surprised Scholes the most was Rice’s delivery from dead ball situations. Speaking on Premier League Productions, the Manchester United legend admitted that Rice’s set-piece capabilities were a revelation. “Rice’s delivery has surprised me a little bit, it’s been some fantastic balls in and that’s not something I knew he had in his locker,” Scholes said.
Set pieces have been an area where West Ham has struggled, and Rice’s performance in this aspect of the game will certainly give Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta some food for thought. Although Rice is not Arsenal’s usual set-piece taker, his skills in this area could prove valuable for the team going forward. Arteta acknowledged Rice’s ability, stating, “Yeah, that is something that we knew and could imagine. It depends as well on who plays in the team and the height we have in the box. He used to do it at West Ham.”
Rice’s return to his former club became even more memorable in the second half when he scored Arsenal’s sixth goal, contributing to West Ham’s heaviest ever home defeat in the Premier League. Despite the victory, Rice chose not to celebrate at his old stomping ground, and the home support, or what was left of it, applauded him off the pitch when he was substituted moments later.
Overall, Arsenal’s 6-0 victory over West Ham showcased Declan Rice’s surprising set piece capabilities, leaving fans and pundits impressed. As Arsenal continues to push for the title, Rice’s versatility and skills in dead ball situations could prove to be a valuable asset for the team. With his former club now aware of his abilities, Rice’s performance against West Ham is sure to be remembered as a standout moment in his career.