Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has highlighted Declan Rice as the Gunners’ most vital player this season under manager Mikel Arteta. Smith stressed that Rice has no direct replacement in Arteta’s squad and emphasized the significant impact his absence would have on Arsenal’s campaign.
When asked about Arsenal’s ability to cope with injuries while pursuing the Premier League title, Smith told newsmen:
“We have seen Arsenal lose a couple of key players, haven’t we? Martin Odegaard was perhaps the main one, but [Eberechi] Eze came in and we have not really seen a drop-off.
“Declan Rice would be a big loss if he got injured because you would lose that drive in midfield and his set-piece ability which has become so important. They have not really got anybody to replace Rice.
“The defence has been superb but even at the back, [Cristhian] Mosquera has come in at times and they have got [Piero] Hincapie as well, so Rice would be the biggest loss for me.”
Smith’s comments underscore Rice’s importance as Arsenal aims to maintain their push for the Premier League title, with his leadership, energy, and set-piece prowess central to Arteta’s tactical setup.
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