Declan Rice lauded the “intelligence” of Martin Odegaard and defended the work rate of Viktor Gyokeres after scoring twice in a 3-2 victory that moved Arsenal four points clear at the top of the table.
Declan Rice inspired Arsenal to a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over AFC Bournemouth, scoring twice to ensure the Gunners ended the festive period with a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League.
Despite an early error from Gabriel Magalhaes, the defender equalized before Rice took control of the match.
The win guarantees Arsenal a minimum four-point cushion over Manchester City ahead of City’s Sunday clash with Chelsea.
Following the match, Rice singled out captain Martin Odegaard for his exceptional vision and playmaking.
Rice credited the Norwegian for assisting his second goal, noting his ability to find pockets of space that others miss.
“He’s so intelligent. I mean, the way he feeds passes for you, the second one, the way he played it through to Bukayo – there aren’t many players in the world who can play those passes,” Rice told club media.
Rice also defended summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, who despite a dry spell, played a vital role in the buildup to the winning goals.
The midfielder dismissed concerns over the striker’s lack of recent goals, emphasizing his physical workload against Premier League defenders.
Rice insisted: “Trust me, he’s doing unbelievably for us, we wouldn’t be where we are without him,” as Arsenal now pivot to a massive midweek clash against Liverpool.