Declan Rice says he has “learned so much” during his short time with Arsenal and is relishing being able to go forward from midfield.
Rice played a key role as the Gunners held on for a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace despite going down to ten men after Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off on 67 minutes for a second yellow card.
And Arsenal’s record signing says he is already improving as a player since joining the club from West Ham.
“In the last four weeks I’ve learned so much,” Rice said.
“I’m learning different ways of playing in the position, constantly on the move, learning how we build up, learning how we play as a team.
“I’m really trying to test myself because to play for Arsenal. To play at the highest level, you need to be one of the best and I’m eager to keep learning and keep flourishing.
“I love going forward, I think I showed that last year with West Ham, my attacking capabilities.
“Even though I would loved to have got more goals, I really enjoyed going forward.
“I had a conversation with the manager here as well and he sees me in that role, but also he sees me in the number six role, and I’m really comfortable playing in both.
“I think that will help the team throughout the season.”
The Gunners have picked up maximum points from their first two games of the new Premier League season having also beaten Nottingham Forest and Rice says their latest victory shows their ability to challenge for the title once again.
“These are the places you want to come if you want to win Premier Leagues and if you want to be up there at the end of the season, these are the stadiums you’ve got to come to, show character and then pluck out the three points,” Rice said.
“I thought we thoroughly deserved it in the end.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also hailed the impact of his new midfield man, and said: “I thought he was fantastic today.
“He really dominated the game. To ask him to do something new, obviously he’s done it at a different club and we asked him to do it in a different way.”
