Jamie Carragher praises 'vastly underrated' Arsenal star after Man City thrashing

Arsenal were utterly ascendant successful their 5-1 Premier League triumph implicit Manchester City but Jamie Carragher inactive believes 1 Gunner prima doesn't get the recognition helium deserves

Jamie Carragher suggested Arsenal prima Declan Rice is underrated by those who expect much goals and assists from the £105million man.

Former West Ham skipper Rice has slotted seamlessly into Arsenal's midfield, helping them travel wrong 2 points of the Premier League rubric past season. The Gunners are a spot further backmost this term, but Rice was named subordinate of the lucifer successful Sunday's connection triumph against Manchester City.

The 26-year-old has 3 goals and 7 assists this term, aft ending past play with 7 and 10 respectively. He has besides scored doubly for England successful that time, netting successful UEFA Nations League victories implicit Ireland and Finland.

He acceptable up 2 of Arsenal's 5 goals against City, with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri the beneficiaries. Carragher singled atom retired for praise aft the game, suggesting others mightiness beryllium demanding excessively overmuch of the Gunners star.

"I astir consciousness sometimes that I’m 1 of Declan Rice’s biggest supporters due to the fact that I bash often find myself scratching my caput erstwhile I spot radical criticise him and asking for much goals and assists," Sky Sports pundit Carragher said. "They were 2 of the top midfield players successful the world astatine that clip and 2 of the top we’ve seen successful the Premier League.

"I don’t retrieve anyone talking astir however galore goals oregon assists they got. They chipped successful with 5 oregon six a play and for me, Declan Rice is 1 of those benignant of all-round midfielders – a spot similar Roy Keane.

"He said he’s playing successful the No.8 and a spot higher, but he’s astir similar a throwback midfield subordinate that utilized to play successful a 4-4-2 enactment and could bash a spot of everything," Carragher added. "I deliberation he’s a fantastic player, his passing scope is vastly underrated – you saw that with the walk for the 5th (goal). But successful the build-up, getting connected the ball, his power. Everything astir him – his pressing aboriginal connected – he’s an perfectly fantastic midfield player."

Does Declan Rice request to adhd much goals and assists? Have your accidental successful the comments section

Rice, however, was his ain biggest professional aft the game. "To get 2 assists was large – I request to adhd goals and assistance to my crippled if I’m going to support playing successful the No.8 position," helium told Sky Sports. "I’m feeling mode amended than I did astatine the commencement of the play and we person to support going to assistance this nine execute silverware which is wherefore I’m here."

Arsenal's triumph brought them backmost wrong six points of league leaders Liverpool, who bushed Bournemouth connected Saturday. Arne Slot's squad tin widen their pb if they triumph their crippled successful manus against Everton connected February 12, but Rice insisted helium and his team-mates volition bash each they tin to adjacent the gap

"We'll beryllium there, we'll support pushing," helium added. "We request different teams to assistance up and recognition to Liverpool. They've been truly bully but it's up america to hunt them down."

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