Arsenal shut down shop against Everton, proving that their defense is miles ahead of the Toffees defense and that the opposition attack would not be able to touch them at all.
And once again, one of the standouts on the pitch for the Gunners was world class defensive midfielder Declan Rice, who was a Ballon d’Or candidate last season as Arsenal waltzed through their first Premier League title in decades.
Rice was in full command of the game, and you never got the sense, aside from one nervy Ben White moment, that Everton ever had a way into this game, and no matter which midfielders are on the pitch, the game revolves around the England international.
He had four key passes with three accurate crosses and a pass completion percentage of around 95, bossing the game with Martin Odegaard yet showing more bite and incisiveness to his play.
Rice is better than a lot of No. 10’s in world football at creating chances because he works harder, is more intelligent, and is more accomplished technically than they are.
There is a lost art to being a playmaker these days. Odegaard is one of those who has it, but a lot of players in the Premier League, including those with stats but no wins like Bruno Fernandes, do not understand that balance.
Rice is more effective than those guys because he can make the most of his passing opportunities and thinks about the weight and placement of his passes to help his teammates score. He was monstrous against Everton and continues to be the cream of the crop in English football.
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THE TRIVELA EFFECT
Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won’t be able to guess my favorite team.