Danny Murphy tips Arsenal star to ‘score double figures’ next season if Mikel Arteta makes key change | Football

Rice was one of Arsenal’s standout performers in the 5-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday evening as he provided the assist for Leandro Trossard’s early opener.

The England international has scored six goals and registered six assists in his first Premier League season at Arsenal following his £105 million move from West Ham last summer.

But Murphy believes Rice is capable of being a significant attacking threat for Arsenal if he is given more license to get forward.

‘I’ve got to give Martin Odegaard a mention, it would be remiss of me not to, he was outstanding, his creativity, his fitness, his sharpness, his leadership,’ Murphy said on BBC’s Match of the Day.

‘But Declan Rice in this position he sometimes plays, in a more forward role, he’s just growing in it and he’s exceptional at this.

‘What he’s got is this wonderful athleticism when he carries the ball which commits defenders and gives other players space.

‘I think he’d be really difficult [to stop], you’re talking about [Enzo] Fernandez and [Moises] Caicedo, two gifted, young midfielders who couldn’t cope with him. They couldn’t get near him.

‘When you free him up to go and press higher that makes Arsenal a better team, for me, because he’s one of the best in the Premier League at closing people down when free from that holding role.

‘I think if he plays in this role more often, which I think he will as his Arsenal career progresses, we’ll start seeing him reach double figures [for goals]. I think it’s a certainty because he’s got all the quality to score more goals.

‘He hasn’t played in that role a lot, but he’s got more goals [than at West Ham], six assists, granted he’s playing with better players and having more possession but those numbers will go through the roof if he plays in that role more consistently.’

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