Declan Rice put in an inspired display in Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Real Madrid that was reminiscent of Steven Gerrard carrying Liverpool’s hopes in the Champions League on his broad shoulders.
The Arsenal midfielder’s two free-kicks that nestled into the back of the net past a hapless Thibaut Courtois were a thing of beauty as he silenced the critics who questioned the record fee paid by the Gunners to snap him up.
Ian Wright feels Rice has been a bargain and if he manages to spearhead Arsenal to their first-ever Champions League, his signing in 2023 will arguably go down as the most influential addition made during Mikel Arteta’s reign.
Micah Richards told Rice he is “world-class” as well and that was for all to see as won the Man of the Match award despite being on the same pitch as elite players such as Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
But Roy Keane has given a word of advice to Declan Rice after his heroics at the Emirates Stadium.
Roy Keane says Declan Rice can only hit Steven Gerrard levels by becoming a goalscorer
Keane feels that for Rice to become a midfielder who can be mentioned in the same breath as Steven Gerrard or Kevin De Bruyne, it is imperative for the Englishman to add goals to his game.
Roy Keane acknowledged that Rice is a “brilliant player” but he believes that becoming a goalscorer could take the former West Ham United captain’s game to another level.
Keane said on The Overlap’s Stick To Football podcast: “But what will help any midfield player, we were chatting the other day about [Kevin] De Bruyne, [Steven] Gerrard, if Rice can just add and if he’s playing higher up the pitch, just start getting goals, listen, brilliant player, he’ll go even to another level. He’d be up there when you’re kind of discussing the great players and as I said, he has in his locker, he’s got a great technique.”
“But that adds to it, the goals add to it, if you throw the goals in on top of it…”
What Declan Rice said about scoring more goals after Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Rice will likely take Roy Keane’s advice on board as he is one of the greatest midfielders to have ever played the game, especially considering he played against Steven Gerrard.
But then Paul Scholes claimed Rice is not a goalscorer and the issue around his output has always divided opinion.
But Rice told Amazon Prime Video Sport after Arsenal’s victory against Real Madrid that he wishes to score more regularly and backs himself to as well.
“Even at West Ham and ever since I’ve been here everyone’s been telling me to shoot more, I need to create more stuff.”
Rice added: “There was one in the first-half, I should’ve had a tap in, I stopped my run, if I kept running and it’s these little things and you’ve got to be in that mindset to score goals. I do have the ability to do it, but it’s a confidence thing.”
“It’s definitely a part of my game, I know I can score more goals, I know I’ve got the ability to do it, it’s just about demanding myself to it and being pushed and having that courage to keep doing it.”
