‘HE WALKS INTO ANY DRESSING ROOM’: MICHAEL OWEN SAYS ARSENAL HAVE A ‘REAL POWERHOUSE’ PLAYER

Michael Owen says Declan Rice ‘walks into any dressing room’ after he opened his Arsenal account in the most dramatic of fashions on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-1 with stoppage-time goals, for the second season running, with Declan Rice netting the decisive strike.

Former England striker Owen has stated that Rice is a ‘great character’ and he feels that he has now made that midfield position for Arsenal ‘a real powerhouse’ of a position, just like the old days under the legendary figures Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, as he told Premier League Productions (03/09/23 at 6:55 pm).

Moving from one team to another, for big money, isn’t easy, because of the scrutiny on that player, just ask Kai Havertz.

Whilst Arsenal’s most expensive player is shining bright, his fellow summer signing is still trying to find his feet, with Owen shocked by the German over the weekend.

But that goal from Rice has now ‘cemented that relationship’ with his new supporters, according to Owen.

“I don’t care who you are, to feel settled in your new surroundings and to have that price tag around your neck, it just makes it feel so much better when you score a big goal,” said Owen.

“When the crowd sings your name. When you feel part of it. He is a great character. He would walk into any dressing room and be part of it straight away.

“But it just cements that relationship. You just, all of a sudden, feel ‘right I have contributed’. He had a good solid game. He will be an important player.

“It’s an area of the pitch for many, many years, since the Vieira and the Petits’s, they used to dominate every team in that area. It has been quite weak over a long period of time, but now it looks like a real powerhouse of a position for them.”

Rice has lifted the Arsenal fans

This was the transfer the supporters were most excited by this summer because he was a player they felt Mikel Arteta needed in his midfield.

The departure of Granit Xhaka, who served them so well during the past few years, opened the door for Rice to come in and showcase his magic.

And, during the early stages, he is ticking many boxes for this title-aspiring team.

from Football Audit
via i9bet