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Declan Rice has heaped praise on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta following their side's 2-1 win over Real Madrid to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Rice said: "This club is going to do special things over the next few years. We all fully believe it. We all have full trust in this manager, he’s unbelievable."
It will be refreshing to Gunners fans to hear one of their star players speaking of Arteta in such a way when in the media limelight. Praise for the Spaniard has been hard to come by in the press in recent years so they will no doubt be pleased for him to be given the respect he deserves.
Declan Rice gives Mikel Arteta the love Arsenal boss rarely hears
Declan Rice, who was named the player of the match in both legs against Real Madrid, praised his manager, Mikel Arteta, in a post-match interview with TNT Sports and fans will love to hear such things being said about the Spaniard.
Arteta and his young Arsenal side have been frequent targets of the media in recent years, often being criticised for over-celebrating when really all they've done is display incredible passion on and off the pitch.
The Gunners boss has done a brilliant job since taking over at the club, transforming them from mid-table dwellers to genuine title contenders in both the Premier League and now the Champions League, and his efforts simply have to be applauded.
Rice has given Arteta the praise he fully deserves and acknowledged the potential the team has under a manager they all have full trust in. Many have questioned the Spaniard's ability to lead Arsenal to trophies but he now looks like he is very close to doing so.
It is safe to say the celebration and passion police have stayed quiet this week. Real Madrid were full of hope that they could complete a remontada, after a crushing first leg defeat, but Arteta and his side obliterated those dreams with a brilliant performance at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He knew just how he wanted his side to approach the game, with the aim to win, and they went and did just that. Arteta's tactics for both legs were a key part in his side overcoming the current Champions League holders and to have even do so in their own backyard deserves a whole lot of praise.
Arteta and his side celebrated just how they wanted as they reached their first Champions League semi-final since 2009, an achievement that can not be understated. As a result, certain pundits and fans are not so loud now.
It is just so nice to see Arteta given his flowers in the media spotlight, even if it has come from an Arsenal player. Praise for the gaffer has been so rare to see and it finally looks like the media and fans are acknowledging him as the brilliant manager that he is. Those who criticise his celebrations must now think twice after they've seen how good of a job he is doing in North London.