Declan Rice Blown Away by Arsenal Fans After Impressive Emirates Debut
Arsenal fans were treated to a glimpse of their new signing Declan Rice on Wednesday night, as the England international made his debut in the Emirates Cup. Rice impressed in the 1-1 draw against Monaco, with the Gunners eventually winning on penalties, and he was quick to thank the Arsenal supporters for their warm welcome.
Declan Rice Impresses on Arsenal Debut
Rice, who joined Arsenal from West Ham in a £105m deal this summer, played 62 minutes in the Emirates Cup clash. He had a total of 48 touches, including five passes into the final third, with four duels won, two tackles made and two recoveries. His passing accuracy was an impressive 90%, and it was clear to see why Mikel Arteta was so keen to bring him to the club.
Rice Thanks Arsenal Fans for Warm Welcome
After the match, Rice took to Twitter to thank the Arsenal fans for their reception. He said: “Blown away by the reception I received before the game! Loved my first minutes at the Emirates, We keep building & pushing. Thank you Gunners.”
Arteta Hints at How Rice Will Be Deployed
When asked about Rice after the game, Arteta hinted that he will be deployed in an attacking role this season. He said: “He played more advanced today. He played more as an attacking midfielder today, it was the first time that he’s played there. He’s on the journey to get back to his best and adapt to the team. I think he has the versatility to play different roles and it’s something that we want to do, especially to maximise the qualities that we have with other players, and they have the ability to play together, and in certain games, we’ll use him in other positions.”
Conclusion
It was clear to see why Mikel Arteta was so keen to bring Declan Rice to Arsenal after his impressive debut in the Emirates Cup. Rice showed his versatility by playing in an attacking role, and his passing accuracy of 90% will have pleased Arteta. The England international was also quick to thank the Arsenal fans for their warm welcome, and it looks like he will be a key part of Arteta’s plans this season.