“It was a risky tackle but I felt like I had to go for it. We’ve got to be better in those situations.”
He was, of course, right. Arsenal may have escaped with a point but they were mighty fortunate to do so. They had done well to weather the storm of a United team that had been in a free-scoring mood of late but Arteta will know that the margins between a decent point and a disastrous defeat were wafer-thin.
For all that Rice’s goal was a thing of beauty, it was his defensive work that will have brought the most satisfaction to the Arsenal boss. This was the midfielder he knew could shut down games, who could provide a wall in front of a defense that was missing its leader in William Saliba. The combination of the Frenchman’s absence and Rice’s presence had left Arsenal looking vulnerable at times, but the latter’s performance at Old Trafford was a welcome reminder of his qualities.
And it was not just his late block on Hojlund that caught the eye. Rice was a dominant force in midfield, breaking up play, distributing the ball effectively, and driving his team forward when necessary. It was a complete performance from a player who is rapidly establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
As for Arteta, he will be relieved to have Rice back to his best. With key players missing and results not going their way in recent weeks, the Arsenal manager needed someone to step up and lead by example. Rice did just that at Old Trafford, and his performance will give the Gunners hope that they can turn their season around and push for a top-four finish.
It may still be early days in the 2025-26 season, but if Rice can continue to perform at this level, Arsenal fans will have reason to be optimistic about what the future holds for their team.
