Declan Rice is of the opinion that Gabriel Magalhaes has been pivotal to Arsenal’s performance this season, suggesting they would have faced difficulties without him.
On the climactic last day of the Premier League season, Arsenal experienced a setback as Manchester City clinched their fourth consecutive title with a 3-1 victory against West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.
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Despite Arsenal’s win over Everton in their last match, they finished the season two points adrift of City in the league standings.
The foundation of Arsenal’s challenge for the title was the robust defensive duo of Gabriel and William Saliba, who were instrumental in achieving 16 clean sheets in the league this season.
Rice contends that Gabriel’s contributions to Arsenal’s defensive solidity are deserving of equal recognition as those of Saliba.
‘Do you know what, obviously there was a lot of talk about Saliba before I came here,’ Rice told Stadium Astro.
‘There was always talk about Saliba, no one ever really spoke about Gabriel. ‘Honestly, that guy, without him as well we’d be in a bit of trouble.
‘Them two together have built up that partnership, 16 clean sheets. It’s just such a good partnership, for me to play in front of them as well, we have a great understanding, we train on it every day, we’re all still really young and I feel we’re going to keep getting better as well.’
Rice ended his first Premier League season at Arsenal with seven goals and eight assists in the league and claims he is capable of playing in a more advanced midfield role under Arteta next campaign.
‘I think in my head I’ve always set myself as an out-and-out holding midfielder,’ Rice said.
‘But I’ve always known in my head I have the ability to do more, to score goals, to provide goals.
‘This year my role has changed quite a bit throughout the season. I’ve really enjoyed playing No.8, I feel like against teams like Everton who sit in low blocks maybe I’m better playing No.6 where I can dictate.
‘But when teams open up I really get excited because I can open up my legs and drive with the ball.
‘I think the main thing is to be adaptable and whatever the manager wants I can try to help out.’
Asked if Arsenal will bounce back stronger next campaign, Rice said: ‘Yeah, we have to be.
‘I just said to some of the boys then that feeling that we have now in our stomach, we need to live with that all summer and come back next year and know what that feeling’s like today of losing and take it into the next 38 games next year because we’re capable of winning it.
‘This year we’ve come up short again, it’s just about adding that little bit more and I’m sure we can get it over the line.’
