{"id":28698,"date":"2024-03-02T03:05:09","date_gmt":"2024-03-02T00:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/28698\/arsenals-rice-on-taking-set\/"},"modified":"2024-03-02T03:05:10","modified_gmt":"2024-03-02T00:05:10","slug":"arsenals-rice-on-taking-set","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/?p=28698","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal&#8217;s Rice on taking set pieces, scoring goals and form"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal&#8217;s Rice on taking set pieces, scoring goals and form\u060c<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>LONDON \u2014 The speed of Declan Rice&#39;s development at Arsenal has surprised many people.  But not the man himself.<\/p>\n<p>The 25-year-old midfielder signed from West Ham <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/tag\/united\/\"   title=\"United\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">United<\/a> in the summer for an initial fee of \u00a3100 million, with a \u00a35 million bonus, and has been an integral part of the Gunners&#39; hopes of winning the title Premier League this season.  two points behind Liverpool at the top of the table.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#39;ll be honest, some people might stand here and say, &#39;Yeah, I surprised myself,&#39; but that&#39;s not the case,&#8221; Rice told ESPN.  \u201cI was playing so well at West Ham, I feel like my level at West Ham has given me so much confidence and belief in myself to have that belief that I can be a top player in the Premier League.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;But the main thing was to be myself. Don&#39;t change anything. Just because I signed for \u00a3105 million, don&#39;t do anything different, just be myself. Things can work themselves out and up &#8220;Now things have gone very well. I have signed for six years and there is still a long way to go in my career at Arsenal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8211; Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rice is speaking after being named Premier League Player of the Year at the London <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/tag\/football\/\"   title=\"Football\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">Football<\/a> Awards, in another indication of the significant impact he has had since leaving the Hammers as part of this record deal with the club.<\/p>\n<p>But it was a difficult decision for him.  Rice joined West Ham aged 14 after being released by Chelsea.  She then became club captain and made 245 appearances, the last of which ended with her lifting her first trophy in 43 years by beating Fiorentina 2\u20131 in the UEFA Europa final.  Conference League.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure><picture><source data- media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data- media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">Declan Rice was previously considered a defensive midfielder, but is starting to show his full range of skills. <cite>Stuart MacFarlane\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Rice had developed into one of England&#39;s best midfielders and despite a real affinity with the club where he grew from boy to <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/tag\/man\/\"   title=\"man\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">man<\/a>, the time was right to test himself at the top of the Premier League.  Playing against his old team was always going to be tricky and Arsenal made it surprisingly tougher, losing 3-1 in the Carabao Cup in November &#8211; when Rice was a 57th-minute substitute &#8211; then succumbing at home in the Premier League with a defeat 2-0 in which he conceded a penalty in the final minutes.<\/p>\n<p>That context made last month&#39;s championship trip to the London Stadium \u2013 his first <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/tag\/start\/\"   title=\"start\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">start<\/a> as an opponent in the venue he called home \u2013 all the more intriguing.  But the collective response was categorical.  After receiving a mixed reception from an early corner (yes, it&#39;s from set pieces now, more on that later), the Gunners went on to <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/tag\/win\/\"   title=\"win\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">win<\/a> 6-0, with Rice refusing to celebrate a brilliant sixth goal that he scored in the 25th minute.  meters.  And he has yet to speak about the emotions of that day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was so hard,\u201d he said.  &#8220;We lost in the cup against them. We lost in the league at the Emirates; I didn&#39;t play well and gave away a penalty. The West Ham fans joked with me and I can accept that 100%. ;I played for West Ham for 10 years and I know how they work. When I went to turn the corner there were a few boos, but there was also some applause.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I know my love for them has never changed; their love for me has never changed. It&#39;s one of those things where you move on. Obviously I scored a great goal, it was really strange. Even talking about it now, it&#39;s weird. A lot of guys asked me afterwards, &#39;How does that feel?&#39; It was a bittersweet feeling, really strange.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I always said I would never celebrate against West Ham and I don&#39;t think I ever will. They made me who I am. I spent 10 years there, I owe them a lot .I would never celebrate, I think it would be really disrespectful. [it was] a very good day to win and score, but a bittersweet feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure><picture><source data- media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data- media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">Declan Rice moved to Arsenal for \u00a3100million this summer and hasn&#39;t looked back. <cite>Stuart MacFarlane\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Rice has brought composure and class to Arsenal&#39;s midfield, but new aspects of his game are constantly emerging.  He had ostensibly been branded a defensive midfielder \u2013 critics claimed earlier in his career that his passing range was too conservative \u2013 but under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta, Rice switched between playing as a deep-lying number 6 or as a as a more offensive player.  No. 8, a change that helped in part lead to unexpected contributions to goals.<\/p>\n<p>The England international has already equaled his best return in a Premier League season, scoring four times, including some crucial moments such as a stoppage-time goal against Manchester United and a last-second winner at Luton.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo score that and look back at the goal, you can&#39;t help but smile,\u201d he says of his goal against United in early September.  &#8220;Probably my best moment so far. My role has completely changed from what I was doing at West Ham and it&#39;s taken me time to adapt, improve, ask questions, and I&#39;m trying really buy into it. I was bought for a lot of money, I want to ask questions and improve, and I want to win things with this club.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In perhaps the most unexpected twist yet, Rice is now given responsibility for corners and set pieces \u2013 a trait first seen with a goal from his corner in Arsenal&#39;s first game after a training break in hot weather in Dubai: a 5-0 victory over Palais de Cristal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had conversations about it with Nico [Nicolas Jover]coach on set pieces since the start of the season,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Obviously because of my height [6-foot-1], he wanted me in the box.  I just feel like he wanted a change.  If I hadn&#39;t had the help [against Palace]I don\u2019t think anyone would have talked about it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Obviously, I&#39;ve had some good deliveries near the middle and back post in the games. I&#39;m excited about getting some assists now. That&#39;s an important thing for me. Whereas before, goals and assists weren&#39;t really my thing. But now I like getting assists, scoring goals and I feel like it gives me that extra energy on the pitch. I strive, I have goals by the end of the season, what I want to achieve.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline float-r inline-track\">\n<h2 class=\"img-title\">LIVE ON ESPN+ (SELECTED GAMES)<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Beautiful game lives here.  Stream the best leagues, tournaments and teams.<br \/><b>Sign up for ESPN+<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>SATURDAY, MARCH 2 (all times ET)<\/b><br \/>\u2022 Huddersfield v Leeds United (7:25 a.m.)<br \/>\u2022 Sevilla v Real Sociedad (8:00 a.m.)<br \/>\u2022 Union Berlin against BVB Dortmund (9:00 a.m.)<br \/>\u2022 Bochum against RB Leipzig (9:00 a.m.)<br \/>\u2022 Birmingham v Southampton (10:00 a.m.)<br \/>\u2022 Valencia vs Real Madrid (3:00 p.m.)<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Arsenal&#39;s ultimate goal is to do better than last season and win the championship.  They held an eight-point advantage at the start of April to win three of the last nine league matches as Manchester City overhauled them.<\/p>\n<p>Rice was then a mere spectator at West Ham, aware of the perception that the Gunners ran out of steam or faded when the pressure reached peak intensity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think Arsenal were the best team in the league last season, but they made a mistake at the end,\u201d he says.  \u201cWhat they are saying now is that they can\u2019t believe they lost the championship by eight points.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This year, I feel like everyone in the team, including the manager and the staff, wants to learn from these mistakes. We are stronger, we believe in it. If we lose 1-0, we will have that confidence and mental strength. us that we can move forward and win games. The league is so strong this year that anything can happen. There are 12 games left to play but the main thing is that we are there. At Christmas we We had a little wobble, we lost two bounce games, which wasn&#39;t good, but we won some big games at home recently, which was very important.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the season we&#39;ll see who wins it, but playing there has been special, playing against the best teams every <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/tag\/week\/\"   title=\"week\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">week<\/a> and the pressure, it&#39;s so good and I know myself and everyone the guys are really enjoying it .So we&#39;ll go ahead and see what happens.<\/p>\n<div data-behavior=\"video_scroll\" class=\"contentItem__content contentItem__content--media-card contentItem__content--fullWidth contentItem__content--inline\">\n<figure data-video=\"watch,640,360,39053287\" data-cerebro-id=\"657061a0be6ab32506281853\" data-title=\"Why Declan Rice is 'worth every single penny' of his Arsenal transfer fee\" class=\"media-wrapper_image video\" data-source=\"espn\"><picture class=\"media-wrapper_image\"><source data- media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data- media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><span class=\"video-play-button\" data-id=\"39053287\">play<\/span><figcaption class=\"media-caption\">\n<p>1:45<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"contentItem__contentWrapper\">\n<p>Why Declan Rice is &#39;worth every penny&#39; of his Arsenal transfer fee<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Shaka Hislop praises Declan Rice after his late winner for Arsenal against Luton Town.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>So, are there even higher levels that rice can reach?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have this conversation with the manager all the time,\u201d he adds.  &#8220;A few weeks ago he said, &#39;You don&#39;t realize the potential you can reach.&#39;  Maybe sometimes it&#39;s not, maybe sometimes I downplay things and I don&#39;t feel as confident as it seems. The next thing is winning trophies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Once Arsenal&#39;s season is over, Rice will travel to Germany where England are among the favorites to win Euro 2024. Gareth Southgate hopes to benefit from Rice&#39;s progress at Arsenal, Jude Bellingham&#39;s elevation to Real Madrid and Harry Kane&#39;s constant scoring at Bayern Munich.  The high-level individual talent at the manager&#39;s disposal will only intensify talk about whether, finally, England can end a 58-year wait for silverware.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like that\u2019s the conversation every time a tournament comes around,\u201d Rice says.  &#8220;A lot of players are obviously playing very well. There are so many players in the Premier League: Jarrod Bowen at West Ham, Ross Barkley at Luton, Cole Palmer [Chelsea]Curtis Jones [Liverpool]so many players are playing well.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;[It&#8217;s a] a big one in Germany;  never been made on foreign soil.  Gareth and [assistant coach] Steve [Holland] reminded us.  We are confident.  We have two big games in March [against Brazil and Belgium] it will be a very good test.  If we learn the lessons from the previous World Cup and the Euro, anything can happen.  That\u2019s what happens that day, you know?  If you can perform and handle the pressure.  I really believe we can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal&#8217;s Rice on taking set pieces, scoring goals and form\u060c LONDON \u2014 The speed of Declan Rice&#39;s development at Arsenal has surprised many people. But not the man himself. The 25-year-old midfielder signed from West Ham United in the summer for an initial fee of \u00a3100 million, with a \u00a35 million bonus, and has been [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28699,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[3602,48,3997,5822,7114,966,74],"class_list":["post-28698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-sports","tag-arsenals","tag-form","tag-goals","tag-pieces","tag-rice","tag-scoring","tag-set"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28698","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28698"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28700,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28698\/revisions\/28700"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}