{"id":1139,"date":"2026-04-08T12:47:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1139"},"modified":"2026-04-08T12:47:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:47:03","slug":"arsenal-win-was-no-fluke-declan-rice-showed-why-he-could-be-footballer-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1139","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal win was no fluke &#8211; Declan Rice showed why he could be Footballer of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_09e96c\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal&#8217;s winner against Sporting may have come in the 91st minute, but it was no backs-to-the-wall smash-and-grab; like he has done all season, Declan Rice ran the midfield<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36983643\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Declan Rice celebrates the Arsenal goal, scored by Kai Havertz\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983643.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2270281887.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983643.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2270281887.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983643.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2270281887.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983643.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2270281887.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Declan Rice was superb against Sporting\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Declan Rice was superb against Sporting<cite aria-label=\"Image: Stuart MacFarlane\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Stuart MacFarlane\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When the winning team\u2019s keeper gets man-of-the-match the narrative quickly becomes they were lucky. David Raya got the UEFA award after making three great saves as Arsenal won at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And no-one could argue with that because Raya has been brilliant for much of the season and it is hard to think of many better keepers in Europe right now. But, equally, Arsenal\u2019s win was not a backs-to-the-wall, hanging on for dear life and a smash-and-grab goal at the end.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It was measured, mature and controlled. They weathered the early storm, slowed the game down in the first half and looked excellent. In the second half, Arsenal were even better. They bossed the game, kept the ball well and they earned the win with Kai Havertz\u2019s winner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">At the heart of that performance was Declan Rice, who bossed midfield. If any player was missed at Southampton then it was him. Rice has been sensational this season for Arsenal. And if we are talking about Footballer of the Year candidates then it has to be him from an Arsenal perspective.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mirrorfootballarsenal#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">  Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_4f362a\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Mikel Arteta agrees with Kai Havertz after Arsenal beat Sporting: &#8220;We are very lucky&#8221;<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_4f362a\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Thierry Henry singles out Arsenal&#8217;s biggest problem that could cost them Champions League<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">My top three would be Rice, Raya and Gabriel. A few weeks back, I would have plumped for Gabriel. Now I would be inclined to vote for Rice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">My view is always go for a player from the champions so there is a while to go yet. Back in 2011 I learnt a lesson by voting for Scott Parker for the Football Writers\u2019 Association award. West Ham went down that year. It seemed like a good idea at the time. If Manchester City come through and win the title then it should be a City player.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Raya should be in the conversation. But the conversation has to end with Rice. Over the course of the season, he has been brilliant. It is idiotic to suggest that he was not injured and Arsenal somehow pulled all of their internationals out of the various March camps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Rice and Bukayo Saka were genuinely injured. Rice could not have played at Southampton or been on the bench. Because he was injured.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36983681\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36983681\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Declan Rice of Arsenal\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983681.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2269751778.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983681.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2269751778.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983681.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2269751778.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36983681.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2269751778.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Declan Rice is a candidate for player of the season\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Declan Rice is a candidate for player of the season<cite aria-label=\"Image: Miguel Lemos\/NurPhoto via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Miguel Lemos\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">WORLD CUP LEGENDS: <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.regionalnewspapers.co.uk\/world-cup-legends-5666-p.asp\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">The stars who lit up football\u2019s greatest tournament &#8211; Buy the Special Edition today<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Players do not want to miss internationals in a World Cup year. But for Rice to come back at Sporting with his familiar brand of energy, work rate and quality was phenomenal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Rice produced a marauding midfield masterclass and if Arsenal can keep him fit for the rest of the season then they will feel a lot more confident about winning the major trophies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There has not been a goalkeeper winning the Football Writers\u2019 Association Footballer of the Year award since Neville Southall in 1985. I remember seeing Everton a few times that season. Southall produced one of the best saves I have ever seen live at Tottenham as Everton won a crunch game 2-1.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36982170\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36982170\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"  David Raya of Arsenal celebrates \" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36982170.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2270279179.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36982170.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2270279179.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36982170.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2270279179.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36982170.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2270279179.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"David Raya was named player of the match\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">David Raya was named player of the match<cite aria-label=\"Image: David Price\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: David Price\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Raya has produced a couple in my top five this season. Brighton at home for one. His incredible double save at Atlanta in September 2024 is probably still my favourite of all time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Let\u2019s be clear. His early fingertip save onto the bar from Sporting\u2019s Maxi Ara\u00fajo was fantastic. The other two in the second half were saves he would be disappointed not to make. If he does not save at his near post or he spills the shot then they go down as errors. As Roy Keane might say, that\u2019s his job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When it comes to Rice, it is all about the energy, the drive and determination to get Arsenal over the line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Join our new WhatsApp community<\/em><\/a>  and receive your daily dose of <em>Mirror<\/em> <em>Football<\/em> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Privacy Notice.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<aside class=\"Factbox_factbox-container__hSMOa\" id=\"factbox\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Entering Factbox content\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36978837\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"factbox\" data-testid=\"factbox\">\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs Factbox_heading-three__NXU52 __className_f9ba33\">FREE \u00a33 William Hill Shop Bets inside your Mirror every day of the Grand National Festival<\/h3>\n<div class=\"Factbox_content__xdMV8\">\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36978796\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36978796\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.9\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36978796.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Copy-of-WH-SOCIAL-Mirror3.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36978796.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_Copy-of-WH-SOCIAL-Mirror3.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36978796.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Copy-of-WH-SOCIAL-Mirror3.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36978796.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Copy-of-WH-SOCIAL-Mirror3.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Don&#8217;t miss a FREE shop bet inside your favourite racing paper every day of the Grand National festival! 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See paper for details.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal&#8217;s winner against Sporting may have come in the 91st minute, but it was no<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}