Arteta Sparks Rice's Premier League Fire with Surprising Motivational Twist
Mikel Arteta has urged Declan Rice to enhance his long throw technique and match the benchmark established by Brentford's right-back Michael Kayode.
Prior to Arsenal's 2-0 triumph over the Bees on Wednesday evening, Arteta praised Kayode for the danger he creates with his throw-ins, which statistically rank as the Premier League's longest on average at 33.2 metres.
Brentford have found the net three times from long throws this season, and while Arsenal dominate as the league's set-piece specialists, the Gunners haven't yet converted from such situations. Arteta wants Rice, whose dead ball deliveries rank among the division's finest, to focus on matching Kayode's ability.
"A massive weapon," Arteta commented regarding the Italian's throw-ins. "We all understand that. It creates a very unpredictable situation—it's extremely hard to anticipate what will unfold."
When asked why Rice hasn't reached Kayode's proficiency with his hands, the Arsenal manager responded: "Who has [matched Kayode]? Everything must progress. I'm unsure how skilled [Kayode] was one, two, or three years back. I know Declan's set-piece ability from three or four years ago and his current standard.
"Development doesn't occur instantly. Skills must be practiced, refined and adjusted. The player must also have confidence, which is crucial. Observing Declan, he can accomplish nearly everything you ask of him."
Arteta certainly shouldn't be concerned about Rice's offensive contribution for the Premier League frontrunners, having netted twice and provided five assists across all competitions. The midfielder's corner and free-kick deliveries regularly create havoc for opposing defenses, though his early substitution against Brentford has raised fitness concerns ahead of the busy holiday schedule.
Rice Dismisses Injury Worries Following Brentford Victory
Arsenal have continuously dealt with injuries throughout this campaign and suffered two additional setbacks on Wednesday. Cristhian Mosquera joined a growing list of defensive casualties that already features William Saliba and Gabriel, while Rice was also substituted due to a fitness concern in the 83rd minute.
Arteta condemned the congested fixture list following the final whistle at the Emirates Stadium and will hope Rice's problem isn't as serious as initially thought. Encouragingly, the England international has declared himself ready for the weekend encounter with Aston Villa.
During a private conversation with Sky Sports News, Rice confirmed he was "fine" and available for selection at Villa Park on Saturday.
The Gunners, who have secured just one victory in their last four encounters with Villa, will be keen to have Rice available against the resurgent Villans. They recognize that success would guarantee they preserve their five-point advantage at the top for at least another week.