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Mikel Arteta makes Declan Rice prediction Arsenal fans will absolutely love after 3-0 win vs Dinamo Zagreb

Srinivas Sadhanand

Thu 23 January 2025 12:45, UK

Mikel Arteta would have been delighted to witness Declan Rice get on the scoresheet from his advanced midfield role during Arsenal’s 3-0 victory against Dinamo Zagreb.

Rice was “annoyed” after Arsenal beat Dinamo Z💙agreb as th🅘e 26-year-old felt he could have scored a brace after m🦹issing a sitter in the 75th minute.

But Mikel Arteta would be🍌 satisfied knowing that the England international has an appetite for scoring goals nowadays.

As the Premier League table shows, Arsenal (43) have less goals than Mancܫhester City (44), Chelsea (44) and Liverpool (50) out of all ♕the teams in the top six currently.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	21	15	5	1	50	20	30	50
2	ArsenalArsenal	22	12	8	2	43	21	22	44
3	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	22	13	5	4	33	22	11	44
4	ChelseaChelsea	22	11	7	4	44	27	17	40
5	Man CityManchester City	22	11	5	6	44	29	15	38
6	NewcastleNewcastle	22	11	5	6	38	26	12	38

As a result, it is important for the likes of Rice ✱and his other teammates to contribute towards upping the Gunners’ goalscoring numbers, especially in the league as they hope to win the title this season.

Recently, Rice admitted attacking the box feels “unnatural” to him.

Mikel Arteta predicts Declan Rice “will score a lot of goals” after Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb

However, Kalvin Phillips revealed Rice is a terrific ath🎀lete and with that being the case, the former West Ham United midfielder has tওhe engi💙ne to make such darting runs to score goals.

The likes of Fꦚrank Lampard and Ilkay Gundogan have shown that the timing of such runs to sniff out chances is a skill that not many other midfielders possess, which gave them an edge over their peers.

After Arsenal defeated Dinamo Zagreb, Mikel Arteta cꦿlaimed that if Rice consistently gets into dangerous areas, he has the quality to bag tons of goals.

Arteta told TNT Spor🉐ts: “Especially in the last few games as well because he had some big, big chances and that’s it. The more he is there, the more consistent he is with the quality that he has, he will score a lot of goals.”

Mikel Arteta went on to add that in rec🦋ent weeks, Rice has had several big chances and he is capable of becoming an even bigger threat than he currently is as a number 🌊eight.

The Spaniard said via HaytersTV: “His intent, his purpose, especially in attacking the position in how he’s driving with the ball, there is another bite to his game. And today, he could have scored two goals, in the last few weeks,🐟 he had some big, big open chances to score, to𝓀 affect the game.”

“Over🥃all, very, very happy because we need to affect the game from those positions and he’s certainly capable of doing that.”

Rice feels he can score goals as a striker if he was dꩵeployed up front for Arsenal but now that he finds him💧self in zones close to Kai Havertz, it is time he does do so consistently.

Roy Keane said Declan Rice can hit “double figures” for goals

Back in September, Roy Keane claimed that the former West Hꦑam United midfielder coul🍃d hit double figures for goals.

Keane said on The Overlap’s Stick To🉐 Football show: “I think he’s got a goal in him and I t♐hink he can.”

Paul Scholes asked: “15 to 20?”

Roy Keane replied: 🍒“That’s a lot for any midfielder.”

“But I definitely thꦛink if he had that𒁏 role at Arsenal and he was guaranteed someone sat behind him, I think he’d get double figures, I think he’d get 10. I think he’s got the technique to score goals.”

“You saw him Ireland [in September], I know, the opposition, they were dominating the game but the way he gets in for the goal and he creates the🐈 second goal, he can do it.”

Kai Havertz claimed Rice is brilliant offensively and he will have to prove that by putting up sizabl🅷e numbers.

Last season, the Europa Conference League winner did manage to score seven goals in the leag🅘ue, which proves that he can put the bal♚l in the back of the net.

Arteta tells Rice to attack the box, a piece of advice he must take seriously to elevate his game as an all-round midfielder❀.