Alan Shearer is already to hand out the award for signing of the season in the Premier League, with Arsenal currently leading the way in the title race ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa
13:13, 18 Dec 2023Updated 08:15, 19 Dec 2023
Alan Shearer has crowned Declan Rice as his signing of the season in the Premier League.
The midfielder joined Arsenal in the summer transfer window for a club record £105million fee. He has more than lived up to that price tag though, scoring crucial goals in wins over Manchester United and Luton Town, helping the Gunners to top spot in the division.
Mikel Arteta's men came agonisingly close to winning the title last season, but eventually ran out of steam. But Shearer believes the presence of Rice means that Arsenal will be able to go all the way this time around, lavishing praise on the midfielder.
"Liverpool's draw left Arsenal in top spot, after their comfortable win over Brighton earlier in the day. It is clear the Gunners have improved from last season, when they pushed City close until the final few games, and it is Declan Rice who has made the biggest difference," he told BBC Sport.
"I would go as far as saying he has been the stand-out signing from the summer, and the £100m he cost from West Ham looks like money well spent. Rice has made the Gunners more solid and also gives them an extra little bit of bite in midfield, but everything he does on the ball is top class as well.
"Arsenal haven't been quite as exciting as they were last year going forward but, along with Liverpool, they have conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League so far and I think they will be delighted with the progress they have made."
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After a week in second place, Arsenal returned to top spot with an impressive win over Brighton. Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz secured the three points the Gunners needed to overtake Liverpool.
It was a result that delighted boss Arteta, with Arsenal having lost the corresponding game last season. And he believes his side now have the confidence to mount a challenge for the title.
"I think we had an incredible performance against a top team. I think we fully deserved to win the game. I have to praise them because I know how difficult it is and what Brighton do to teams. We didn’t allow that to happen, so I’m super happy," he said.
"I don’t know about the handbrake. Hopefully I don’t transmit them to play with the handbrake but when you have 10 players defending in [a space of] 22 metres, you cannot run. If you run, you run off the pitch.
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"When [you play] a team that allows you space, that wants to go man-to-man, there are huge spaces opening if you do the right things. Then we can run - and we’re a really dangerous team then as well.
"I think the team is clicking because they’re experiencing more and more time together. When you talk about Kai or Declan, they have played more games with us now. They understand certain things much quicker. It’s easy to adapt in games because they get it."
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