West Ham midfielder Declan Rice captained the side in the absence of the injured Mark Noble in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal last night and he was singled out for praise by John Hartson.
The former Hammers and Gunners forward felt that the 21-year-old was dictating the game in the middle of the park for the away side:
How good have West Ham been tonight.. Declan Rice running the show. #player
— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) September 19, 2020
Rice continues to be linked with a switch to Chelsea but his performance last night demonstrates how vital he is to David Moyes’ side. The Blues are reportedly lining up a bid for the England international before the transfer deadline next month but they are unlikely to match the player’s £75m price tag.
Despite his young age, Rice is now seen as one of the leaders in the West Ham squad and there’s no doubt that he would be a massive miss if he were to leave the London Stadium in the next few weeks.
