Mikel Arteta says he’s happy Declan Rice has been compared to ‘incredible player’ Man City sold in 2018

Redaction Simon Brett with Srinivas Sadhanand
Published on 2024-03-07 17:30:00

Mikel Arteta expressed his satisfaction with the comparison between Declan Rice and former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure. The comparison was made by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry during a recent interview on Sky Sports. Rice himself has cited Toure as one of his idols and a player he looks up to for inspiration.

Arteta, ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming match against Brentford, shared his thoughts on the comparison. He acknowledged Toure’s incredible talent and achievements in the Premier League, stating that it is a good sign for Rice to be compared to such a legendary player.

While Arteta is pleased with the comparison, he also emphasized that Rice still has a long way to go before he reaches Toure’s level of play. He pointed out that, aside from defensive skills, Rice has yet to master many aspects of the game that made Toure such a standout player – such as passing, goal-scoring, and game control.

Despite Rice’s ambition to emulate Toure, Arteta believes that the young midfielder still has much room for growth and development. He noted that Rice lacks the complete profile that Toure possessed during his career, including skills like free-kicks, assists, and dribbling.

In conclusion, while Arteta acknowledges the positive aspects of comparing Rice to a player like Toure, he also highlights the areas in which Rice needs to improve to truly match up to the Ivorian’s legacy. The comparison serves as motivation for Rice to continue honing his skills and striving for excellence in his career.

Read Original article on Manchester City News