Declan Rice Thrives in the Attacking Role for Arsenal After Scoring and Assisting Against Bournemouth – Goals and Misses in the Premier League

Rice is thriving as an attacker for Arsenal

Declan Rice is best known for his defensive qualities, but the 25-year-old’s performances this season may require a re-evaluation. He has developed into a lethal attacker under Mikel Arteta.

He provided the assist for Leandro Trossard’s crucial second goal in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday, instinctively passing the ball to him with the outside of his boot, and added the third himself in added time with a cool corner kick. Add conclusion.

Rice has now scored seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League this season, the fourth-highest total of any Arsenal player and more than twice as many as he has ever managed before. “To do that in this league is something different,” said Arteta afterwards.

His goal involvements only told part of the story on Saturday. Rice commanded attention on numerous occasions, his drive in and out of possession at times pushing Arsenal upward, at other times helping to stem the tide. “Declan Rice, we got him for half price,” chanted the home fans at the final whistle.

The introduction of Thomas Partey at the base of midfield has helped, giving the £105million new signing the freedom to shoot forward from the No.8 position. But Rice’s increased attacking threat has been evident all season. This was just the most recent example.
Nick Wright

Newcastle’s narrative changes with a strong end to the season

It wasn’t too long ago that Eddie Howe was answering questions about his Newcastle players on the beach.

But four wins from five and 27 points from 14 games after a four-game losing streak either side of the new year has changed the story around St James’ Park.

Howe has never been under sustained pressure, but having reached the Champions League 12 months ago, the prospect of missing out on European football altogether this time around would have been a tough pill to swallow.

Of course, that’s still a very real possibility. But the Magpies are the best team in those aiming for the final two European places, are now the top scorers alongside Man City and Arsenal and have one of their rivals for those places, Man Utd, with the last three games remaining.

It could easily have been a dismal end to the season for Newcastle, who have suffered badly from injuries over the course of the season, testing a squad with a talented and expensive first eleven but limited options in the reserves.

If anything, Saturday’s win at Burnley was a reminder of how much the squad needs to be strengthened in the summer. With Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon all on the pitch and shooting – the first time all three had started this season – they looked a constant threat and as dangerous in transition as any in the Premier League -Team.

When their top talent is unavailable or over-utilized, a slump quickly sets in and that needs to be addressed before the start of next season.
Ron Walker

For Brentford and Fulham, the focus next season will be on the final improvement in the third third

As we made our way to Gtech Community Stadium in the spring sunshine, there was hope that two teams with little to gain other than local bragging rights would get going and put on an entertaining, high-scoring contest. It should not be.

Bryan Mbeumo’s deflected shot hit the crossbar in the first half and substitute Raul Jimenez failed to make a good opening in the closing stages, but these two teams proved noticeably faltering in the final third despite adding more intensity to this derby.

The visitors repeatedly failed to make good positions count as the Fulham players’ crosses wandered and some erratic passes from the disappointing Willian didn’t help. Birthday boy Rodrigo Muniz wasn’t at his best, Andreas Pereira missed his target and Fulham have now drawn 12 times this season – only Sheffield United have done so more times.

As for Brentford, there was encouraging interplay between Mbeumo and Ivan Toney, but the latter has now not scored in ten games, while Keane Lewis-Potter has been a nuisance for Fulham but nothing more.

The actual work for these pages is done. Brentford are safe and Fulham are in mid-table. But the area that needs to be worked on over the summer is clear…
Peter Smith

Hudson-Odoi brilliance ignites forest fire

Luton need at least four points to prevail over Nottingham Forest in their last two games. To put that in perspective, it’s the same number of points they’ve scored in their last 12 games. For this reason, the Opta forecaster believes there is a 95 percent chance of a decline.

This was a cathartic afternoon for Nuno Espirito Santo, who saw Ryan Yates’ goal withstand a VAR review. So often when the lines were drawn or when incidents were moved to Stockley Park, luck was not in their favor.

But the emotions that erupted in the away team when referee Chris Kavanagh awarded the goal – again in full time – show this could be a defining moment in Forest’s season.

There were 32 chances in a game that went up and down. Sheffied United had a superior xG – 2.27 to 1.49 – had more shots and more possession. But there was more conviction from visitors and quality.

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored two picture-perfect goals to help Forest overcome a terrible start at Bramall Lane to record their first away win since Boxing Day.

One happened in Newcastle, the other at Stamford Bridge. Their situation at the bottom of the table could look even rosier if an appeal against a four-point deduction for breaking financial rules is successful. News is expected next week.

But another win over Chelsea next weekend will see Nuno’s spirited side over the finish line.
Ben Grounds

Blunt blades claim unwanted record

Sheffield United’s dreadful season reached a new low as Hudson-Odoi conceded their 100th goal with his second goal. This made them the first Premier League team to score a century in a 38-game season, with Swindon achieving this over 42 games in the 1993–94 season.

So Chris Wilder, who once again squandered his chances, has little courage left after this latest home defeat.

The last team to concede more goals in a 38-game top-flight season was Leicester City in 1908/09 (102) – and it is Sheffield United’s porous defense that has made them famous this season have acquired.

United’s only clean sheet in the league this season came in a 1-0 home win against Brentford in December.

Swindon, who topped the league in 1993/94, were the only team to concede a hundred goals in a season since the top flight was renamed the previous year.

The Blades had already surpassed Derby’s 38-game record of 89 after conceding 92 goals following the 4-2 defeat to Manchester United. A 5-1 Newcastle win confirmed relegation and took them to 97 before they sent three goals home to Forest.

Their average of 2.78 goals conceded per game is well above Swindon’s previous worst figure of 2.38. And with two games left to play, away to Everton and home to Tottenham, the record will surely be broken.
Ben Grounds

Luton’s final is getting closer and closer

Luton Town could look back on Friday evening as the day security was lost.

Rob Edwards still said it was a good game after the game. He used words like resilience, struggle and spirit. He told reporters that belief in staying up still resonates. But time is running out.

This felt like an opportunity that needed to be taken advantage of. Sean Dyche’s Everton put in a fairly rudimentary performance, playing like a team whose hard work had already been done after securing safety against Brentford last weekend.

Dyche admitted as much: “We have lost our way… there is a feeling that we have done our job,” he said.

The harsh reality is that Luton have only won once in their last 15 games. They have scored 46 goals in all competitions since the start of February, more than any other team in Europe’s five major leagues, and have also failed to keep a clean sheet. It’s hard to look past the bare facts.

The Hatters remained defiant and pursued the game, bombarding Everton’s penalty area late and registering six shots in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough. The threat of relegation remains high and despite Luton’s impressive performance and Edwards’ never-say-die attitude, the final appears to be close.
Laura Hunter

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