Arsenal star Declan Rice has now been told he has something in his game that only Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard had.

The England international was again Man of the Match for the Gunners this weekend in their 3-0 win against AFC Bournemouth, with Ian Wright hailing Rice as Arsenal’s ‘difference-maker’ as the midfielder scored and assisted on the day.

Reaching his best tally yet in terms of goals scored and assists made, Rice has flourished at Arsenal this season under Mikel Arteta, with the 25-year-old looking like an absolute bargain for the Gunners even at £105m.

And journalist James McNicholas has now said Rice has added something to his game only seen from Gerrard.

Rice’s athleticism and technical ability compared to Gerrard

Speaking to On the Whistle, the Atheltic reporter noted that Rice’s athleticism mixed with his technical ability gives the midfielder a shade of Gerrard to how he plays, with the England international adding goals and assists to his game since moving to Arsenal.

Indeed, Rice has become a real attacking outlet for the Gunners since arriving last summer, and Arsenal could soon have their own version of Gerrard if the 25-year-old can build on this aspect under Arteta.

McNicholas said: “It’s a really intriguing conundrum for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta in where do you want to see him play. It’s so hard to live with someone with that athleticism, I think back to Steven Gerrard, who was incredibly technically gifted.

“But one of the most important things for defenders to deal with was that physical power, he was so powerful and athletic, and Rice has that too, running and staying with him is so difficult, and if he can ally that with good finishing, he could be a real threat.”

Rice can be as important to Arsenal as Gerrard was for Liverpool

Gerrard will forever be remembered as one of the Premier League’s all-time great midfielders, yet the legacy left by the Liverpool legend is one that many players will want to follow in the years to come.

And for Arsenal, Rice can be just as important to the Gunners as Gerrard was for Liverpool, with the England midfielder already within touching distance of ending the north London side’s 20-year wait for a Premier League title.

The improvement at Arsenal has been noticeable, with Rice taking the Premier League giants to new heights and teeing up the club for a big future in the years to come.

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