“He was the difference maker for Arsenal tonight, we could have lost the match by 3-1 if not for him”- Arsenal icon Ian Wright was quick to heap praises on ‘brave’ Arsenal hero for being the difference maker against Liverpool at Anfield- Player not Gabriel Magalhaes, not Odegard and not Havertz

‘Magnificent’…Ian Wright blown away by £100m Arsenal player against Liverpool

Ian Wright has lauded Arsenal for taking a point at Liverpool tonight and was full of praise for midfielder Declan Rice as well.

Rice produced another top performance in the middle of the park as the Gunners came away from Anfield with a point. In the end, the result felt about right given the chances and amount of play both sides had.

For Rice, it was another important game for him to show his worth. The England man has won plenty of praise for his performances since he signed, and tonight was no different.

Ian Wright praises Declan Rice after Arsenal v Liverpool

Speaking about Rice for Premier League productions, Ian Wright says he felt Rice was the reason the Gunners could go into the game with such confidence.

“I’ll take that point in the way we played today. I thought Declan Rice was magnificent. I didn’t feel we had a lot of fluidity in the game. I thought we defended well.

Liverpool could’ve and maybe should’ve scored that goal but going to Anfield and taking a point is always going to be a good point,” Wright said.

“I feel Rice is one of the main reasons why you can go to Anfield with confidence. Yes, you’d have liked to have seen more out of Odegaard and Saka and Martinelli but at the same time, for this team to go to Liverpool, to go a goal up, to come away with a draw, you have to take it as a good result.”

Rice looking a bargain

While Arsenal might lack a top striker, they certainly don’t lack a top defensive midfield player now they’ve got Rice onboard

Eyebrows were raised in the summer when Arsenal shelled out £100m for the England man. But somehow, that is looking like a bargain and Mikel Arteta must be delighted.

Rice seems to have a bit of everything to his game and as Wright mentions here, he’s giving Arsenal’s other players confidence as well.

The midfielder is now showing just why there was such a clamour for him in the summer. Arsenal sit top of the table at Christmas and could very much end up winning it all. 

Rice, then, will remain key in that battle for the title.