Arsenal legend gives huge credit to Mikel Arteta for tactical change that has ignited Gunners star

Mikel Arteta is to thank for tactical tweak that has seen Declan Rice produce the goods in final third as Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira saying he is the player he loves watching

Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has hailed Mikel Arteta for allowing Declan Rice to flourish as more than just a holding midfielder with the England star delivering his most effective season yet in terms of goal involvements.

Rice has eight goals and 11 assists so far this season and his free-kick double in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid left most of European football stunned.

And Gunners icon Vieira, in an interview with The Telegraph, believes the 26-year-old has hit another level since being moved into a No8 role, while Arteta deserves praise for making the decision to grant Rice more positional freedom having arrived as a more defensive-minded player.

“I don’t like to make comparisons, because I think we are all different with our strengths and weaknesses,” Vieira said. “But I think first is all the credit with the manager, with Mikel [Arteta], because I think from Declan being a holding midfielder, he went a little bit more as the eight.

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“I think he saw the physical side of him doing the box-to-box and to be the player who can get to the box, in with the second line, and then can score goals.

“I think the change of position is quite important, so credit to Mikel for that. And then, of course, he is the player that I love watching. I love his spirit. I love his competitiveness. I like the fact that he’s always going forward and he is a winner.

“I think this position, No 8, suits him much better, because previously you can say ‘OK, he may play with the handbrake’. But playing as a No 8 and having this will to go to the box and score goals. I think this is something that suits his style of play.”

Arsenal are gearing up to face Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night having lost the opening meeting at the Emirates 1-0 seven days ago.

Arteta is due to speak to the media from the City of Love on Tuesday evening where he will provide an injury update having said in recent days that one from Kai Havertz, Jorginho or Riccardo Calafiori could be in line for a return.

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